midday
` I do n't despair of getting you into plane trigonometry , Fanny . We will gossip about sines and co-sines before we die . ' It was said half-seriously , and Everard could not but burst into laughter . He sat down with them to their plain midday meal , and early in the afternoon took his leave . He had no inclination to go home , if the empty flat could be dignified with such a name . After reading the papers at his club , he walked aimlessly about the streets until it was time to return to the same place for dinner . Then he sat with a cigar , dreaming , and at half-past eight went to the Royal Oak Station , and journeyed to Chelsea .