"My dear, as if I could," he exclaimed.
"Lovers can forget very easily," said Margaret. "You see I've thought such a lot about being in love that I've got everyone else's conduct clearly mapped out in my mind."
Guy stopped dead; and, as he stopped, the robin now far behind them ceased his song, and even the flute of the wind sounding on distant hollows and horizons cracked in the frost so that the stillness was sharp as ice itself.
"Margaret, what makes you think Pauline cares for me? How dare I be so fortunate?"
"Because you know you are fortunate," said Margaret, nor could falling snow have touched his arm more lightly than she. "Why do you suppose I told you about Richard if it was not because I thought you appreciated Pauline?"
"Ah, how I shall always love the snow," Guy exclaimed, grinding the slippery ball upon his heel to powder.
"But now I've got a disappointment for you," said Margaret. "Pauline and Monica are going into Oxford to-day for a week."
"You won't tell anybody what I've told you?" he begged.
"Of course not. Secrets are much too fascinating not to be kept as long as possible."
He opened the wicket, and presently they parted in the High Street.