“Now, don’t you tell me he wanted to look at curiosities from the South Seas!” said Freddy warningly. “I ain’t a big enough bleater to swallow that one! Just a trifle too loud, Kit!”
“No, of course he did not. Oh, dear, how awkward this is! I wonder what I should do?”
“Well, I can tell you that!” said Freddy. “You can stop making a cake of me. What’s more, if you let Dolph go on hanging round you for ever I’ll tell everyone that our betrothal is a hum!”
“Freddy, you would not!” exclaimed Miss Charing, turning pale. “What can it signify to you, after all?”
“Does signify. Here’s m’mother wanting to know what I’m about to let you go all over town with Dolph! Never felt such a flat in my life!”
“Oh, I am so very sorry!” said Kitty contritely.
“Yes, I daresay, but I’m dashed if I see what your lay is! If you wanted Dolph, why the deuce didn’t you accept his offer? No need to have dragged me into the business at all.”
Kitty laid an impulsive hand on his arm. “Freddy, you could not think that I would ever marry poor Dolph?”
“Well, no,” admitted Freddy. “In fact, I’ll take dashed good care you don’t!”
“I don’t want to! Though, I must say, Freddy, it is not in the least your affair!”