"Impossible, Frank!" she cried. "Perhaps November."
In September and October Ora would be away. Two months with Ora away, absolutely away, perhaps forgotten! Irene built hopes high on these two months.
"Not till November!" he groaned. The groan sounded well; but it meant "Don't leave me free all that time. Tie me up before then!"
"Ashley Mead seems obstinate in his silly refusal of Sir James Muddock's offer," she said, anxious to get rid of the conflict.
"Why should he take it?" asked Bowdon. "He can get along very well without it; I don't fancy him at the counter."
"Oh, it's so evidently the sensible thing."
"I've heard you tell him yourself not to go and sell ribbons."
How exasperating are these reminders!
"I've grown wiser in ever so many ways lately," she retorted with a smile.
There was an opening for a lover here. She gave it him with a forlorn hope of its acceptance.