“I’m sure of that,” George said, sighing. “But it needn’t matter to you, need it? I mean a girl like you wouldn’t be bothered with anyone like me.”

“You’re a bit spineless, aren’t you?” Cora said, flicking ash on the floor. There was contempt in her voice.

“I suppose I am,” George said, crushed. “You see, I’m not used to women. I don’t understand them.”

“Well, at the rate you’re going on, you never will,” she returned. “What makes you think I wouldn’t be bothered with you?”

George shrugged. “Well, you won’t, will you?”

“What does that mean? You won’t, will you?”

“What’s the good of talking about it? You asked me if I loved you, and I said I did. You don’t love me, do you?”

“Of course I don’t,” she returned, “but that doesn’t mean that I couldn’t love you, does it?”

George stared at her. “What was that?”

“Don’t he so dumb!” There was an impatient note in her voice. “I said that doesn’t mean I couldn’t love you, does it?”