"Why, I've always been fond of you, Leo. You know I have. And I don't think you should call it 'nonsense'." Suddenly he reverted to his grievance: "It makes a fool of a fellow to—to treat a proposal in that sort of way."
"It wasn't a real proposal, Val. You just said it for something to say."
"I didn't. What an idea! I told gran this morning—she was asking who I'd met and all that—and I just told her straight, that none of them could hold a candle to you." He paused and continued: "Though there were some dashers among them too; and I daresay some men would have said Nelly Brackenbury was better looking——"
"So Nelly Brackenbury was the one?"
"Rather. Simply splendid. She would have made two of you, Leo."
"Maud's style, perhaps?"
"Aye, Maud's style; that's what I said. I told them I knew a girl who could give her points, at my own place."
"But to Maud you would say you had met a girl who could give her points!"
"Say that to Maud? No, thank you; I'm never rude to Maud."
"Only to me?"