I expected her to fly out at me, but her manner was the same as usual.
"Want me to undo your frock behind, Mamma?" she asked.
Then, when she had got me half unhooked: "Tell me what the Prince said when he proposed."
"He didn't propose," said I.
"If he didn't I shall ask Sir Ralph to call him out. He'd no business kissing your hands unless he'd proposed."
I was surprised at this attitude. But it made me feel confidential. "He hadn't had a chance," I volunteered. "He was just going to, when the search-light—"
"—Searched. Lucky for you the interruption came at the right moment."
"Why? I thought—"
"Because it saved you the pain of refusing him."
"But, Beechy darling, I don't think I was going to refuse him."