"Well," he said, "Perhaps we'd better get going fairly soon if you want to catch that plane." "Yes, dear - yes! Everything's ready. The car's waiting." "That's good," he said watching her closely. "Here's Walker with your coat, dear. Put it on." "I'll be with you in a moment," he said. "I'm just going to wash my hands." She waited for him, and the tall butler stood beside her, holding the coat and the hat. "Walker, will I miss it?" "No, Madam," the butler said. "I think you'll make it all right." Then Mr Foster appeared again, and the butler helped him on with his coat. Mrs Foster hurried outside and got into the waiting car. Her husband came after her, but he walked down the steps of the house slowly, stopping halfway to look up at the sky and to smell the cold morning air. "It looks a bit foggy," he said as he sat down beside her in the car. "And it's always worse out there at the airport. I shouldn't be surprised if the airport is closed already." "Don't say that, dear - please." They didn't speak again until the car had crossed over the river to Long Island. "I organized everything with the servants," Mr Foster said. "They're all going off today. I gave them half pay for six weeks and told Walker I'd let him know when we wanted them back." "Yes," she said. "He told me." "I'll move into the club tonight. It'll be a nice change staying at the club." "Yes, dear. I'll write to you." "I'll call in at the house from time to time to see that everything's all right and to pick up any letters." "But don't you really think Walker should stay there all the time to look after things?" she asked softly. "Don't be silly. We don't need him to. And anyway, I'd have to give him full pay." "Oh yes," she said. "Of course." "What's more, you never know what people get up to when they're left alone in a house," Mr Foster said. And with that he took out a cigar and, after cutting off the end, lit it with a gold lighter. She sat still in the car, with her hands held tightly together under a blanket that the driver had provided.

"Bueno", dijo, "tal vez sea mejor que nos vayamos pronto si quieres tomar ese avión". "Sí, querida, ¡sí! Todo está listo. El auto está esperando". "Eso es bueno", dijo mirándola de cerca. "Aquí está Walker con tu abrigo, querida. Póntelo". "Estaré contigo en un momento", dijo. "Solo me voy a lavar las manos". Ella lo esperó, y el mayordomo alto se paró a su lado, sosteniendo el abrigo y el sombrero. "Walker, ¿me lo perderé?" "No, señora", dijo el mayordomo. "Creo que lo arreglarás". Entonces apareció de nuevo el señor Foster y el mayordomo le ayudó a ponerse el abrigo. La Sra. Foster se apresuró afuera y se metió en el auto que esperaba. Su marido vino tras ella, pero bajó los escalones del la casa lentamente, deteniéndose a mitad de camino para mirar al cielo y oler el aire frío de la mañana. "Parece un poco brumoso", dijo mientras se sentaba a su lado en el coche. "Y siempre es peor ahí fuera en el aeropuerto. No debería sorprenderme si el aeropuerto ya está cerrado ". "No digas eso, querida - por favor." No volvieron a hablar hasta que el coche cruzó el río hacia Long Island. "Organicé todo con los sirvientes", dijo Foster. "Todos van a estallar hoy. Les di pagar la mitad por seis semanas y le dije a Walker que le avisaría cuando los quisiéramos de vuelta ". "Sí", dijo ella. "Me dijo." "Me mudaré al club esta noche.Será un buen cambio quedarse en el club ". "Sí, querida. Te escribiré." "Llamaré a la casa de vez en cuando para ver que todo esté bien y para recoger cualquier letras." "¿Pero no crees realmente que Walker debería quedarse allí todo el tiempo para cuidar las cosas?" ella preguntó suavemente. "No seas tonto. No necesitamos que lo haga. Y de todos modos, tendría que darle el pago completo". "Oh, sí", dijo. "Por supuesto." "Es más, nunca se sabe lo que hacen las personas cuando se quedan solas en una casa", dijo Foster. dijo. Y con eso sacó un puro y, después de cortarle la punta, lo encendió con un mechero de oro. Ella se sentó quieta en el auto, con las manos fuertemente juntas debajo de una manta que el conductor había previsto.