Darius was still in the garden when Edwin went to him. He had put on
his daily suit, and was leisurely digging in an uncultivated patch of
ground. He stuck the spade into the earth perpendicularly and deep, and
when he tried to prise it up and it would not yield because of a
concealed half-brick, he put his tongue between his teeth and then bit
his lower lip, controlling himself, determined to get the better of the
spade and the brick by persuasively humouring them. He took no notice
whatever of Edwin.
"I see you aren't losing any time," said Edwin, who felt as though he
were engaging in small-talk with a stranger.
"Are _you_?" Darius replied, without turning his head.
"I've just come up for a bit of breakfast. Everything's all right," he
said. He would have liked to add: "I was in the shop before
seven-thirty," but he was too proud.