“And feed me with it and clothe me, and feed and clothe an enormous family?”
“We shouldn’t have an enormous family at once. I’ll make you rich before there are . . .”
Minna tapped his hand with amused affection, got up and left him. She went and stood near Bennett and Annette and she heard him say:
“Thank you for wearing them.”
She saw then that Annette was wearing two little red roses in her bosom.
“It was kind of you to send them,” said Annette.
“I hardly dared,” said Bennett. “I didn’t know if I might. I never see you now.”
Annette looked up at him between fear and delight. His mournful eyes met hers, and with a small envy Minna saw that they were entirely oblivious of everybody in the room. Annette’s lips pouted. A little sigh escaped her. She turned and hurried away.
Basil Haslam came up, took Minna rather roughly by the arm and dragged her away to sit on the stairs. In her heart she was pleased by his masterfulness, but superficially she was irritated, and they sat quarrelling.