“Yes,” he agreed. “But she could.”
“Oh, I wish you were not so much afraid of your Mama!” sighed Kitty.
He paused to look down into her face, his own greatly astonished. “You do? It’s that thing again. Thing I’ve forgotten. Because I do, too.”
She perceived that it would be fruitless to pursue this subject. She said instead: “Why did your mother urge you to bring me for this drive?”
A deep sigh shook him. “Wants you to marry me,” he replied. “Says I did the thing badly.”
“But this is nonsensical!” she pointed out. “How can she think of such a thing when she knows I am engaged to Freddy?”
“Says you aren’t. Says she suspected a bubble all along. Says she knew you wasn’t when she saw you last night. Says she ain’t to be deceived.” He sighed again. “True!” he said, in a depressed tone.
Miss Charing’s arm had stiffened. She said carefully: “She is quite out this time, however. Of course I am engaged to Freddy! Why should she suppose it is a bubble?”
Dolphinton wrinkled his brow in an effort of memory. “Something to do with Jack,” he produced. “It don’t make sense, which is why I can’t remember it. I remember things very well in general, but not when I don’t understand them.”
“Well, it is a very good thing that you don’t remember foolish things!” said Kitty warmly. “You may tell your Mama that she very much mistakes the matter! No, I suppose you would not dare to do so: I shall contrive a way of telling her myself.”