“You’ll think me very weak, Deane,” rejoined the General, with an apologetic laugh, “but I’ve promised to go straight on if she wants me to.”
“And does she?”
“I don’t know what the child has got in her head, but she says she’ll tell me when she gets to Paris. We shall have a day with you anyhow; I don’t think she’s so set on not staying as she was, but I don’t profess to understand her fancies. Still, as you see, I yield to them.”
“Man’s task in the world,” said Deane. “Eh, Charlie? What are you hiding behind that paper for?”
“I was only looking at the pictures.”
“Quite enough too. You’re going to stay in Paris, aren’t you?”
“Don’t know yet, old fellow. It depends on whether I get a letter calling me back or not.”
“Hang it, one might as well be in a house where the shooting turns out a fraud. Nobody knows that he won’t have a wire any morning and have to go back to town. My wife ‘ll be furious if you desert her, General.”
“Oh, I hope it won’t come to that.”
“I hope awfully that I shall be able to stay,” said Charlie, with obvious sincerity.