"You needn't be. He's no good. You must have nothing to do with him. Ask Lily Brent. He tried to kiss her once, the beast, but she nearly broke his nose, and serve him right."
"Oh? Did she mind?"
"Mind!"
"I don't think I should have. He looks clean, and if he really wanted to kiss me very badly, I expect I should let him. It's such a little thing."
"Good heavens, girl!" He stopped in a stride and turned to her. "That kind of charity is very ill-advised."
Her laughter floated over his head with the coolness of the wind. "I hope I shan't have to give way to it."
He continued to be serious. "Well, you're not ignorant. Rupert and I made up our minds to that as soon as we knew anything ourselves; but women are such fools, such fools! Tender-hearted idiots!"
"Is that why you're afraid to go to Lily Brent?" she asked.
"Ah, that's different," he mumbled. "She's more like a man."
Helen was smiling as they walked on. "If you could have Lily Brent and give up your garden, or keep your garden and lose her—"