“But how can you talk about being engaged to this Muriel Marston when you’ve been engaged for nearly three years to April?”
Roland’s retort came quickly.
“I’ve never been engaged to April.”
“You know you have! Why!...”
But Mrs. Whately had held up her hand.
“Hush, dear,” she said. “Roland’s quite right. He’s never been officially engaged to April.”
Roland shivered at the venom that was revealed by the stressing of the word “officially.”
“And how long,” she went on, “have you been in love with Miss Marston?”
“Oh, I don’t know, mother; I can’t tell. Please let me alone.” And there was genuine misery behind the words. “One doesn’t know about a thing like this.”
But Mrs. Whately would not spare him. She shook her head impatiently.