"Adorable angel," said Norman. "Father's as pleased as he can be about us. He said he saw it coming all the time. So did mother. It seems so extraordinary that we didn't."
The conversation then took a lighter turn. Pamela threw a quick look at him, and said: "Well, you were rather busy looking out for somebody else, weren't you? I often used to wonder who it would be, and I'm bound to say that I never thought it would be me. I can't be blamed. It would have looked so very unlikely."
"Now, Pam, we've had that out before. If I hadn't told you all about all of them as they came and went—especially as they went—I might be inclined to wince at your reminder. But I suppose you only want me to say again that I could never have loved anybody but you for more than a few minutes, and that what I felt for all those charmers put together wasn't a drop in the ocean compared to what I feel for you. Oh, Lord! What a discovery it was! Pam darling, could I have just one? It would be such a refreshment."
There was a short interlude, and then Pam said: "I don't think I really feel jealous about Margaret and Company—Unlimited. It will give us something to talk about in future years. Still, I'm glad that I didn't go about falling in love myself."
"So am I, darling. But people would soon have begun to fall in love with you. There was poor old Jim already."
She turned her head away, and a blush came to her face. "I'd rather that you didn't talk about him and me like that," she said. "For one thing, he will almost certainly marry Judith some day."
"I suppose so. How are they getting on together? Has he been over since he came down?"
"Yes. It's rather touching to see them. Poor little Ju! She has been frightfully sad, and she's kept it so much to herself. Jim seems to have just the right way with her. She talks about father to him, I know. And he was so nice about us, Norman. I think there's something really fine about Jim, and we've been rather prigs about him. He hasn't got our sort of interests; but Judith hasn't either, and nobody could call her dull. Jim is simple in a large sort of way; and it's a very good quality."
"Yes, I think it is. And he has behaved well, for it must have been a bit of a knock for him to come and find you and me as we were. You do think he and Judy will fix it up between them, do you?"
"Not yet. But I think it will come. They're rather like you and me. Each of them is what the other wants, and they'll find it out all of a sudden."