He 's not a bit shy , though he may be absent-minded -- so absent-minded that he forgot to say goodnight to ME when you started to go to the door with him . He 's got brains , too . There 's so few men round here that can talk sense to a body . I 've enjoyed the evening . I would n't mind seeing more of him . But no philandering , Rosemary , mind you -- no philandering . '' Rosemary was quite used to being warned by Ellen from philandering if she so much as talked five minutes to any marriageable man under eighty or over eighteen . She had always laughed at the warning with unfeigned amusement . This time it did not amuse her -- it irritated her a little . Who wanted to philander ? `` Do n't be such a goose , Ellen , '' she said with unaccustomed shortness as she took her lamp . She went upstairs without saying goodnight . Ellen shook her head dubiously and looked at the black cat . `` What is she so cross about , St. George ? '' she asked . `` When you howl you 're hit , I 've always heard , George . But she promised , Saint -- she promised , and we Wests always keep our word . So it wo n't matter if he does want to philander , George . She promised . I wo n't worry . ''
Upstairs , in her room , XXXXX sat for a long while looking out of the window across the moonlit garden to the distant , shining harbour .
Ellen George Rosemary Saint Wests brains evening mind minutes philandering