I laughed, and so did she.
'Why did you make him do it?' I asked.
'I wanted to put him to some sort of test,' she replied. 'Unless a man will do what he dislikes for you, he isn't worth much.'
'I'm afraid you are going to play with this young man's affections,' I said very severely, for her tone was frivolous.
'Am I?' she murmured. 'I wonder!'
There was a moment of silence between us. I felt all manner of thrills of interest and sympathy. If you can't be happy yourself, the next best thing is to see other people happy. If, as I now suspected, Virginia was not playing with Sir Archibald's affections, then I was eagerly on her side. Words are not necessary, however, and Virginia must have divined my sympathy.
We had reached the lych-gate, and there, under the solemn little roof that had sheltered so many a coffin on its way to the grave, Virginia turned and gave me a kiss.
'You dear!' she said. That was all.
VI