‘Miss Mutimer,’ he replied, with a stage sigh, ‘why do you tempt my weakness? I am on my honour; I am endeavouring to earn your good opinion. Spare me!’
‘Oh, I’m sure there’s no harm in you, Mr. Keene. I suppose you’d better go and see after your—your business.’
‘You are right. I go at once, Princess. I may call you Princess?’
‘Well, I don’t know about that. Of course only when there’s no one else in the room.’
‘But I shall think it always.’
‘That I can’t prevent, you know.’
‘Ah, I fear you mean nothing, Miss Mutimer.’
‘Nothing at all.’
He took his leave, and Alice enjoyed reflecting upon the dialogue, which certainly had meant nothing for her in any graver sense.
‘Now, that’s what the books call flirtation,’ she said to herself. ‘I think I can do that.’