Again Nancy reflected. She had a struggle with herself.
‘Just one question,’ she said at length. ‘Look me in the face. Are you—ever so little—ashamed of me?’
He regarded her steadily, smiling.
‘Not in the least.’
‘You were—you used to be?’
‘Before I knew you; and before I knew myself. When, in fact, you were a notable young lady of Camberwell, and I—’
He paused to puff at his pipe.
‘And you?’
‘A notable young fool of nowhere at all.’