midday
I have been in Balham . '' But though , owing to the leather coat , the others seemed to consider that they had an heiress amongst them , they would not let the big Bearskin be her _ impresario _ or their instructor . `` Divorce is very easy in England , '' said the thin man solemnly , and turned his shoulder slightly on the Bearskin , as though he blamed him for his stay in Balham . When the lunch was over and the last fragment of _ pâté _ drawn off the last knife upon the crust of bread that remained , Fanny 's restless hopes turned towards packing up ; but she counted without the white wine and the national repose after the midday meal . They washed their cups with care under the outlet tap of the radiator , and , wiping them dry to the last corner , sat back under the hedge to drink slowly . All this time a peculiar quality had been drawing across the sun . It grew redder and duller , till , blushing , it died out , and Fanny saw that the morning frost had disappeared .