"And you never told me!" escaped from him.
"You are not my diarist," she said, faintly ironical.
"Please forgive me, Janet," he said, dropping his possessive tone, as he reminded himself how touchy she was about her independence. "But I'm disappointed, bitterly disappointed. I planned the excursion as a surprise for you. And how I've counted on it!"
"Not more than I long to go, Claude. But what can I do?"
He took her hands in his, and said eagerly:
"Must you keep the engagement? Can't you think of some excuse? Where on earth was he going to take you to?"
"To the Japanese Industrial Exhibition at the Grand Central Palace."
He made a contemptuous grimace.
"A stuffy exhibition!" he exclaimed. "Good Heavens, Janet, why hesitate to change your plans? It isn't as if Robert wanted you for himself, as I do. He'll understand."
Janet wondered whether Claude would understand if she confessed that she was actually more interested in the Japanese Exhibition than in the cross-continent air race. But though she kept silent on this point, because she really wanted greatly to go with Claude, she was rather troubled. It was not easy for her to gratify a private desire at the expense of a social obligation.