He stopped in the street and said abruptly, 'Clarice, I can't.' She stopped in her turn and drew a little pattern on the pavement with the point of her umbrella.

'Why ?' A passer-by jostled Drake in the back.

Standing there they were blocking the way.

'Isn't there anywhere we could go?
Tea?
One drinks tea at this hour, eh ?' 'No.' Clarice felt more mistress of herself in the open street, more able to cope with Drake while they walked in a throng.

She remembered enough of yesterday to avoid even the makeshift solitude of a tea-table in a public room.