“That sounds rather nice—Very nice indeed. And wherefore am I not to go, Nessita, mine angel?”
“Because I don’t want you to. You’re rather a joke, you know, and—”
”—And—what?”
“Nothing.”
“That ought to settle it. Only I don’t flatter myself my departure will leave any gap. Remaineth there not a large garrison at Shâlalai—horse, foot, and artillery?”
“Oh, hang the garrison at Shâlalai! You’re detestable. I don’t like you any more.”
“No? Well what will make you like me any more?”
“If you stay.”
“That settles it. I cannot depart in the face of that condition,” he answered, the gravity of his words and tone simply belied by a whimsical twinkle of the eyes. She, looking up, saw this.
“Ah, I believe you’ve been cramming all the time. I’ll ask Mr Upward when we get in, and if you have, I’ll never forgive you.”