"And you!" Mrs. Austen retorted. "What do you call yourself? You are
always civil to him."
Verelst showed his teeth. "One of the few things life has taught me is
to be civil to everybody."
"Except to me. Now do sit down and make yourself uncomfortable. You have
made me uncomfortable enough. Any one might think you a country parson."
But Verelst, scowling at the dial which the legs of the nymph upheld,
removed his glasses. "I am going." He moved to the door, stopped, half
turned, motioned again. "Tell Margaret I would rather see her in her
coffin."