“No, thank you, my dear. There are one or two little things that need my attention.” And Constance departed with her jewel-box.
Dick, having assured himself that the door was closed, assaulted Lily with a kiss.
“Been here long?” he inquired.
“About an hour and a half.”
“Glad to see me?”
“Oh, Dick!” she protested.
“Old lady’s in one of her humours, eh?”
“No, no! Only she was just talking about balloons—you know. She’s very much up in arms.”
“You ought to keep her off balloons. Balloons may be the ruin of her wedding-present to us, my child.”
“Dick! How can you talk like that? ... It’s all very well saying I ought to keep her off balloons. You try to keep her off balloons when once she begins, and see!”