"Ah!" said Yvonne, giving Ben a pat with delicate ringed hands, "'e 'ave spoke with you about me. And you say 'I will defend my big brozzer against this—this—so naughty butterfly?' Is it not so?"
"Cecil adores you," said Ben. "I wish you had some children."
Yvonne's large brown eyes filled with tears.
"And I," she said. "Always I think of it. But le bon Dieu, 'E say no."
XXXVII
Not long after the close of the Barclay Corbet episode Mr. Harford waylaid Ben as she passed through the shop.
"I was wondering," he said, "if you would break a chop with Soul and me this evening? Anywhere you like?"
Ben agreed.