Book Two The Woman - Chapter 29 In Which Charmian Answers My Question

"Peter!"

"Yes?"

"I wish you wouldn't."

"Wouldn't what, Charmian?"

"Stir your tea round and round and round--it is really most
--exasperating!"

"I beg your pardon!" said I humbly.

"And you eat nothing; and that is also exasperating!"

"I am not hungry."

"And I was so careful with the bacon--see it is fried
--beautifully--yes, you are very exasperating, Peter!"

Here, finding I was absent-mindedly stirring my tea round and
round again, I gulped it down out of the way, whereupon Charmian
took my cup and refilled it; having done which, she set her
elbows upon the table, and, propping her chin in her hands,
looked at me.

"You climbed out through your window last night, Peter?"

"Yes."

"It must have been a--dreadfully tight squeeze!"

"Yes."

"And why did you go by the window?"

"I did not wish to disturb you."

"That was very thoughtful of you--only, you see, I was up and
dressed; the roar of the thunder woke me. It was a dreadful
storm, Peter!"

"Yes."

"The lightning was awful!"

"Yes."

"And you were out in it?"

"Yes."

"Oh, you poor, poor Peter! How cold you must have been!"

"On the contrary," I began, "I--"