Edward made a congratulatory noise. Only Mrs. Fairfield was silent, watching Bunny with feline intentness.
‘Well,’ she said sharply. ‘Who’s the young lady, Bunny?’
Bunny, with his hands in his pockets agitating a bunch of keys, stood first on one leg and then on the other.
‘That was what I came for,’ he said, blushing, ‘to ask your blessing, don’t you know. You see, Hypatia....’
‘Yes,’ said Mrs. Fairfield curtly. ‘What about Hypatia?’
Even the amiable Bunny had not unlimited patience.
‘Hypatia?’ he said. ‘Well, nothing about her. You asked me who was the young lady. I’ve told you.’
‘Hypatia!’ demanded Mrs. Fairfield.
‘Exactly,’ answered Bunny, and strode out of the room.
‘Herbert!’ cried Mrs. Fairfield to her husband. ‘Go after him. At once. Hypatia shan’t have him. She shan’t!’