“Well, you needn’t now. That’s a silver lining to the black cloud.”
“What cloud?” she asked. “Oh, I see, the fact of your not getting into the—the—eleven, aren’t there?”
“Yes. You used to know that well enough when I was at school.”
“I know I did. But I’ve forgotten. You see, cricket doesn’t enter really very essentially into my life, except when it concerns your precious self. Go on, Robin; tell me heaps more about yourself. My appetite for cricket is rather bird-like. I peck and go away. Birds, isn’t that what they call you?”
“If you happen to be a Robin and a Linnet there’s not much else to say,” remarked Robin.
“No, it sounds natural. But go on—I didn’t mean to interrupt. Have you fallen in love with anybody lately?”
“Yes, last night, with Mrs. Lockwater. O-oh!”
Lady Grote burst into a peal of laughter.
“My dear, she’s a little old for you, isn’t she?” she said. “And she’s got a husband already, which is a pity.”
“But you don’t want to marry everyone you fall in love with, do you?” asked he. “You want—you just want. I don’t mind about her husband a bit.”