When we had sorted ourselves:

"If you do that again," she said severely, "I'II leave you in the
road- "

"In the what?"

"In the road to find your own way home as best you can."

"You have a hard nose," I said doggedly. I was almost sure that
the ear-rings were pearl ear-rings.

There was a pause. The cold was making us silent. My fingers
were getting numbed, but I dared not chafe them. I was afraid of
the rug.

"You're not doing much for your drive," she said presently. "Do
say something."

"You want to converse?"

"Yes."

"Very well, then. I didn't see you at Blackpool this year."

"That's curious."

"Yes, isn't it? What's your recreation? Forgive my seeming
inquisitiveness, but I've just joined the staff of Who's Who."