Now, since this work was done not in an office but at home, the burden of that fretfulness fell altogether upon Clarice.
She took to reading the _Morte d'Arthur_.

Fielding found her with the book in her hand when he called, and commented on her choice.
'There's no romance in the world nowadays,' she replied.
'But there has been,' he replied cheerfully; 'lots.' Clarice professed not to understand his meaning.

He proceeded to tick off upon his ringers those particular instances in which he knew her to have had a share, and mentioned the names of the gentlemen.

He omitted Drake's, however, and Clarice noticed the omission.

For the rest she listened quite patiently until he came to an end.