“‘Nor mine,’ echoed Patricia, trying to reconstruct her puzzled estimate of their relations. ‘But couldn’t you stop that? Surely, if you put it clearly to him....’
“Amy interrupted with a laugh that was almost shrill. Her manner was coldly contemptuous.
“‘You are priceless!’ she cried. ‘You say the most wonderful things.’
“‘Well, I should.’
“‘I wonder.’ Amy moved about, collecting the plates. ‘You see ... some day I shall marry. And in a weak moment I said probably I’d marry him.’
“‘Oh, Amy! Of course he’s jealous.’ Swiftly, Patricia did the young man justice.
“‘I didn’t give him any right to be. I told him I’d changed my mind. I’ve told him lots of times that probably I sha’n’t marry him.’
“‘But you keep him. Amy! You do encourage him.’ Patricia was stricken afresh with a generous impulse of emotion on Jack’s behalf. ‘I mean, by not telling him straight out. Surely you can’t keep a man waiting like that? I wonder he doesn’t insist.’
“‘Jack insist!’ Amy was again scornful. ‘Not he!’
“There was a moment s pause. Innocently, Patricia ventured upon a charitable interpretation.