for yourself."

 

"Miss Kenton, I am busy just now and will attend to the matter shortly. It is

hardly one of urgency."

 

"You accept then, Mr Stevens, that I am not in error on this point."

 

"I will accept nothing of the sort, Miss Kenton, until I have had a chance to

deal with the matter. However, I am occupied at present."

 

I turned back to my business, but Miss Kenton remained in the doorway observing

me. Eventually, she said:

 

"I can see you will be finished very shortly, Mr Stevens. I will await you

outside so that this matter may be finalized when you come out."

 

"Miss Kenton, I believe you are according this matter an urgency it hardly

merits."

 

But Miss Kenton had departed, and sure enough, as I continued with my work, an

occasional footstep or some other sound would serve to remind me she was still

there outside the door. I decided therefore to occupy myself with some further

tasks in the billiard room, assuming she would after a while see the

ludicrousness of her position and leave. However, after some time had passed,

and I had exhausted the tasks which could usefully be achieved with the