"Very much, my dear. Do you?"
"Yes...." Anstice experienced an overwhelming desire to repeat her endearing term, but luckily refrained. "This is my car—will you come for a ride with me one day?"
For a second Cherry regarded him with a pensive courtesy which was almost embarrassing. Then:
"With pleasure, my dear," she replied, and Iris laughed outright.
"You fickle child! And you have always declared you liked my motor better than any car that ever was seen!"
"So I do." Cherry looked up at her with unsmiling gravity. "But——"
"But now you must all come in and have lunch." Mrs. Carstairs turned to Anstice. "Dr. Anstice, you can spare us a little time, can't you? Lunch is quite ready, and Cherry, I'm sure, endorses my invitation!"
He hesitated, torn between a desire to accept and an uncomfortable suspicion that he could not afford the time.
"You will have to lunch somewhere, you know!" Her manner was a trifle warmer than usual. "And it will really save time to do it here!"
"My lunch is a very hurried affair as a rule," he said, smiling. "But if I may run away as soon as I've finished I'll be delighted to stay."