We gave them, with full throats. (Fortunately we were a long way from Phillis's room.)
After that we all sat down again, feeling a little awkward, as people do when they have taken the lid off their private feelings for a moment. Finally Kitty led off with—
"But, Dolly, dear, why didn't you tell us? When was it?"
"I didn't tell you before," said Dolly composedly, "because it has only just happened—this moment."
"Only this moment? But——"
"Do you mean to say he hasn't asked you? Oh——"
"Are you asking him?"
The questions came simultaneously from all parts of the table; horribly inquisitive, some of them; but then the thing had been so frankly and deliberately done, that we knew Dolly wanted to explain everything to us there and then.
"I'll tell you," said Dolly, after silence had been restored by the fact that Gerald had shouted us all down and then stopped himself. "Robin told me—well—something, six months ago, the night after Dilly's wedding, at the dance——"
"That was why you locked the door, then," I said involuntarily.