Considering that he had only been once to Wales to hear his idol sing at a concert, there was a certain satisfaction in giving Dolly to understand that he hadn't really had half a bad time; so he smiled and didn't answer.
"Is she grown up?" asked Dolly.
Savile was cautiously reserved on the subject, but seemed to think he might go so far as to say she was grown up.
"Did you have fun last night?" he then asked.
"No. I was simply miserable."
"Why?"
"I kept the cotillon for Robert, though he hadn't exactly asked for it, and when the time came the girl of the house, who is eighteen, actually danced it with him!"
"Hope you didn't show you cared."
"No, I didn't; but I danced with a lot of stupid little boys, and I was so bored! Besides, I hate Robert. Wasn't it mean of him? He went to supper with this grown-up girl, who was awfully amused at his foreign accent, and he behaved as if I was just a child, a friend of his little sister Thérèse. Now, do you think, Savile, as a man of the world, that I ought ever to speak to him again?"
"When's he going away?" asked Savile.