He gripped her arm in great agitation. “No, no! You won’t tell Mama I told you what she said!”
He was so much alarmed that her anger died. She said soothingly: “No, I promise you I will not, Dolph. I would never betray you: you know I would not! I wish very much that I could help you.”
His grip shifted from her wrist to her hand, which he pressed gratefully. “I like you, Kitty!” he uttered. “I like you better than Freddy. Better than Hugh. Better than—”
“Yes, yes!” she interrupted hastily. “Better than any of them!”
They walked slowly on, Kitty lost in thought, Dolphinton content to remain silent. Suddenly Kitty spoke. “Dolph, I have been thinking, and it has occurred to me all at once— You don’t wish to be married to me, do you?” He shook his head. “Why don’t you?” she demanded straitly.
He swallowed once or twice. “Not—not good at explaining!” he said.
She paid no heed to this. “You like me, and you always do what your Mama bids you, and I must say it does seem to me as though you would be very glad to be married, if only to escape from your Mama. Dolph, can it be—are you— Dolph, do you wish to marry someone else?”
He turned quite pale, and almost dragged her round. “Go back to the carriage!” he said. “Keeping the horses standing!”
“No, that horrid groom is taking care of them for you. Tell me, Dolph! I won’t tell your Mama! I won’t tell anyone—upon my honour, I will not! It is some lady whom she does not like?”
“Never met her,” he muttered. “Wouldn’t like her.”