“Oh, please, papa——.”
“But why do you want to go?” asked the General, rather impatiently.
Dora had absolutely no producible reason for her eagerness to go. And yet—Oh, if they only knew what was at stake! “We’re to be married in a fortnight!” She could see the words dancing before her eyes. And she must waste a precious week here!
“Do you want me, Miss Bellairs?” asked Charlie Ellerton, coming up to them.
“Yes. I want—oh, I want to go to Rumpelmayer’s.”
“All right. Come along. I’m delighted to go with you.”
They walked off in silence. Dora was in distress. She saw that the General was immovable.
Suddenly Charlie turned to her and remarked,
“Well, it’s all over with me, Miss Bellairs.”
“What? How do you mean?”