"Ah!" exclaimed Elsie April. "But we didn't belong to the Movement then! We didn't know.... Come now, Mr. Machin. Sir John Pilgrim will of course be a great draw. But even if you've got him and manage to stick to him, we should beat you. You'll never get the audience you want if you don't change from Wednesday week. After all, the number of people who count in London is very small. And we've got nearly all of them. You've no idea—"
"I won't change from Wednesday week," said Edward Henry. This defiance of her put him into an extremely agitated felicity.
"Now, my dear Mr. Machin—"
He was acutely aware of the charm she was exerting, and yet he discovered that he could easily withstand it.
"Now, my dear Miss April, please don't try to take advantage of your beauty!"
She sat up. She was apparently measuring herself and him.
"Then you won't change the day, truly?" Her urbanity was in no wise impaired.
"I won't," he laughed lightly. "I daresay you aren't used to people like me, Miss April."
(She might get the better of Seven Sachs, but not of him, Edward Henry [204] Machin from the Five Towns!)
"Marrier!" said he, suddenly, with a bluff, humorous downrightness, "you know you're in a very awkward position here, and you know you've got to see Alloyd for me before six o'clock. Be off with you. I will be responsible for Miss April."