“Could stand what?” She came nearer to him. “My caring for you so much?”
Half-a-minute passed in something near torture, as she played with his tie again, and he controlled himself and spoke with a determinedly kind smile.
“Go along and dress for dinner,” he said.
“What shall I wear?”
“Oh! Your pretty yellow teagown,” he answered.
She could not go out in that, he was reflecting, and if he suddenly wanted to go for a walk——
“Very well, Nigel. Oh, dear Nigel! I don’t mean to be disagreeable.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” he answered, “let’s leave it at that, my dear.”
“All right,” she said smiling, and went away, with a rather coquettish kiss of the hand to him.
He opened the door and shut it after her, with gallant attention. Then he threw up his arms with a despairing gesture.