This was said with an artless candor that enraptured Jimmy.
“What a dear little girlie you are!” he said. “What an adorable kid!”
“That’s right,” retorted Lily. “Why not a baby, while you’re about it, a school-girl in the biking-class and so on? Some people treat me as a woman, Jimmy, and propose to marry me!”
“What’s that?”
“What I say, Jimmy.”
“And this man making up to you is worthy of you, I suppose? And do you love him?” asked Jimmy, greatly upset.
“Pooh!” said Lily. “I’m not quite sure.”
“But you wouldn’t marry him unless you loved him?”
“I should marry him to change my life.”
“A change, Lily,” said Jimmy, with feeling, “is not always a change for the better! And your life is a little pleasanter now, you told me so yourself. Your mother is sorry. You’re getting pocket-money; ten shillings a week, eh? Why, Lily, that’s splendid!”