“I don’t know yet, but I will—before any damage is done. I’m afraid it’s spoiled your day, and I’m frightfully sorry. But there you are. And now let’s go to Eaux Chaudes and find some tea.”
“Eaux Chaudes?” cried Miss Voile. “But we’re booked to your aunt! Don’t look so amazed. If I start on a thing I like to see it through. And what on earth’s the use of all I’ve done if we don’t——”
“I refuse,” said Captain Rage. “As you’ve said, you’re deep enough in. If I hadn’t been so rattled——”
“I never said that,” said Miss Voile. “And now please don’t interfere. This is my show. You say you’re grateful. Very well, then. Do as I say. I shan’t get in any deeper by going to tea. I don’t suppose it’s a party.”
“I wish you wouldn’t,” said Toby. “I—I don’t like it. What with bein’ heckled by that woman, then all of a sudden lugged out of the muck, an’ then all dazzled an’ blinded by the way you handled her, it never occurred to me that you were paying the score. It sounds ungrateful and selfish, but there you are. Now that I do see, for Heaven’s sake have a heart. Don’t make me feel more of a worm.”
With a sudden movement Cicely put out her hands.
“Toby, I’m sorry,” she said. “And please don’t feel like a worm. It is so—so very inappropriate. I was so glad to help you.” Rage took her hands in his. “I am so glad I’ve helped you. And I’m glad to go on helping you—awfully glad. And then we’ll help each other—out of the wood. . . . I’m afraid it sounded as if I repented what I’d done. I don’t, Toby, I don’t. And I don’t quite know why I said such rotten things. Only, when you called me ‘darling’ on—on the top of it all, it . . . seemed as if you were forgetting . . . that it’s only—only a game.”
Toby Rage looked into the great brown eyes.
“I—I believe I was,” he faltered.
“Well, please don’t, Toby dear,” said Cicely Voile. “I’ll tell you why. I’ve banked on your not forgetting. I’ve put—not exactly my honour, but my—my value in your hands. The moment that you forget I become cheap.” The man started. “You won’t have made me cheap. I shall have made myself cheap. Cheap in my own eyes—and yours. And I like you just well enough, Toby, not to want that.”