"Of course, of course; surely you did not think——"
"Oh, I don't know what I thought; but I feel so funny, so nervous."
Collingwood laughed again—really, it was the most reassuring and musical laugh. "Peggy nervous?"
"Well, it is rather alarming," Peggy replied.
Collingwood laughed once more, and stepped up towards her. "But rather nice—isn't it rather nice?—what, Peggy?"
There was something so irresistibly amusing in his voice and smile that Mrs. Admaston began to bubble over with laughter.
"Isn't it rather nice?" he went on, crossing over to the little switch-board and putting out the big central light which depended from the roof. "Isn't it rather nice?"
Peggy had entrenched herself behind the little table on which supper had been laid. She was obviously tremendously amused, but she made a great effort to be serious. "Colling!" she said, "it is mad. Supposing anybody knew!"
Collingwood was quite calm. He treated the whole thing as if it were the most ordinary occasion. He strolled lazily over to the fireplace, took a cigarette-case from his pocket, a cigarette from it, and struck a light.
"How can anyone know?" he asked.