‘N—no, my love; I can’t do that.’
‘You can’t do that, John?’
‘No, my dear, it’s quite out of the question. Not to be thought of.’
‘Am I to go alone, John?’
‘No, my dear, you will go with Mr Lightwood.’
‘Don’t you think it’s time we went down to Mr Lightwood, John dear?’ Bella insinuated.
‘My darling, it’s almost time you went, but I must ask you to excuse me to him altogether.’
‘You never mean, John dear, that you are not going to see him? Why, he knows you have come home. I told him so.’
‘That’s a little unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Unfortunate or fortunate, I positively cannot see him, my love.’
Bella cast about in her mind what could be his reason for this unaccountable behaviour; as she sat on his knee looking at him in astonishment and pouting a little. A weak reason presented itself.