“No, you won’t,” said Freddy, with unexpected firmness. “That’s what you said last night. Talked a lot of stuff about becoming a chambermaid. Well, you can’t, that’s all.”
“Oh, no!” she assured him. “Upon reflection, of course I perceived that that wouldn’t answer. And also I shouldn’t wonder at it if Hugh was quite at fault, and I might do very well as a governess. To quite young children, you know, who don’t need instruction in Italian or Water-colour painting.”
“Can’t do that either,” said Freddy.
“Well, really, Freddy!” cried Miss Charing indignantly. “Pray, what concern is it of yours?”
“Good God, Kit, of course it’s my concern!” retorted Freddy, moved to express himself strongly. “You don’t suppose I’m going to have everyone saying you’d rather go for a governess than marry me, do you? Nice gudgeon I should look!”
This aspect of the case had not previously occurred to Miss Charing, but she was a reasonable girl, and she at once perceived its force. “I suppose it would be disagreeable for you,” she admitted. “Oh, well! I won’t do it, then! If all else fails, I must just return to Arnside. Whatever happens, I shall at least have had one month in London!”
“Yes, but that’s just it,” said Freddy, knitting his brows. “Seems to me you’ve got a devilish queer notion of London! What do you suppose will happen?”
“Good gracious, Freddy, anything might happen! Well, at all events, much more than could ever happen to me at Arnside! You can’t deny that that’s so!”
“No, I can’t,” said Freddy bluntly. “That’s what’s worrying me. The more I talk to you, Kit, the more I wish I hadn’t been such a sapskull as to let you persuade me into this business! You’ll do something gooseish, and I shall get the blame for it.”
“No, no, indeed I will not!” Kitty said coaxingly. “I promise I won’t do anything you think wrong!”