"I had no idea you were there," he said. "Hermann will do, won't he? I think--"

And then suddenly the words of commonplace failed him, and he looked at her in silence.

"I knew you were back," she said. "Hermann told me about-- everything."

Michael glanced sideways, indicating his mother, who sat next him, and was talking to Barbara.

"I wondered whether perhaps you would come and see my mother and me," he said. "May I write?"

She looked at him with the friendliness of her smiling eyes and her grave mouth.

"Is it necessary to ask?" she said.

Michael turned back to his seat, for his mother had had quite enough of her sister-in-law, and wanted him again. She looked over her shoulder for a moment to see whom Michael was talking to.

(Editor：map)