Somebody must keep the shop open, if it's only to politely put the customers off.' He interpreted the look of surprise upon Mrs.Mallinson's face.

'Yes, I have been gradually sucked into the whirlpool,' and he laughed with a nod towards Drake.
She turned to him with her eyes shining.

'And you are proud of it.' Fielding smiled indulgently.

'That's a woman's thought.' 'But you don't deny it's truth.' Clarice said nothing more until the meeting had terminated and the party was in the street.

They walked from the Town Hall to Drake's hotel, Clarice and Fielding a few paces behind the rest.