Before I could reply he answered, still meekly, his own question.
"You loathe me because you think I've been heartlessly flirting with your little friend."
I stared!
He smiled deprecatingly.
"Oh, yes!" he continued, "women think it takes a woman to spot those things. But—er—I knew. Now I'll tell you—er—something."
He glanced towards that "reserved" man, the shepherd.
"No English, eh?" he broke off. "I wish no servants knew any! By Jove, how it would simplify life for a lot of people——"
"But what did you want to tell me?" I said crossly.
"Just this," replied Colonel Fielding, with his most deceptive, most shrinking bashfulness. "I'm going to marry your little friend, Miss Weare."
"To marry Miss Weare?"