'Yes?' Margaret answered, with mild interrogation.
'Oh!' ejaculated Mr. Lushington, as if surprised that she should reply at all. 'I thought you were reading.'
'I was.' She let the new book shut itself, as she lifted her hand from the open pages.
'I did not mean to interrupt you,' said the young man stiffly.
No answer occurred to Margaret at once, so she waited, gently drumming on the closed book with her loosely gloved fingers.
'I suppose you think I'm an awful idiot,' observed Mr. Lushington, with unexpected and quite unnecessary energy.
'Dear me! This is so very sudden! Awful—idiot? Let me see.'
Her absurd gravity was even more exasperating than her smile. Lushington threw away his cigarette angrily.
'You know what I mean,' he cried, getting red again. 'Don't be horrid!'
'Then don't be silly,' retorted Margaret.