“Charlie and Graham may be stout themselves by the time they are his age,” she said.
Dora felt obliged to follow suit.
“And of course you can’t expect an author to have as much hair as—as Charlie, for instance, can you?” she said.
“Oh, Charlie, Charlie!” sighed Bee. “But what shall you say if it is you he wants, Dora?”
Dora looked absolutely nervous.
“Oh, Bee—tell me, for goodness’ sake, so I can be ready. Oh, I wish you could be there to help me, if he does. I know I shall just giggle.”
[p173]
“You mean ‘should,’” said Bee calmly. “You know it is quite probable that it is I he likes.”
“Oh, yes, of course, Bee, you know that is what I mean,” said the younger girl; “but do tell me what to say. I should want him to understand distinctly that I couldn’t think of being married for ages. Oh, Bee, I must have a bit more fun. Don’t you feel like that?”
“Oh, yes, that’s all very well, Do,” said Bee gloomily, “but it is quite time we were engaged. It is a very serious matter and we must face it.”
They faced it, sitting side by side on the edge of the narrow hotel bed, with their pretty little feet in their high-heeled shoes dangling several inches from the ground.