“What was he excitable about?”
“Me. He wanted me—to make love to me.”
“Oh, my God!” said Matthew, laughing as if the thing that amused him was not at all funny.
“Amused?”
“I was laughing at the foolishness of men, Fliss.”
“Not so foolish,” said Fliss, drily. “He was very much in earnest. And as it happens that he cares a lot I was almost tempted to pack my bag. What would you have done?”
“Gone after you.”
She looked around at him skeptically. “Well, anyway I didn’t run. I called that whole business off. Told him there was nothing doing at all. He won’t be back.”
“Why did you lead him such a dance, Fliss? He’s such a nice young fellow.”
“Well, you see”—Fliss contemplated her image in the glass—“I was doing my best to make you jealous. But you wouldn’t fall for it, old thing. Now tell me what you were doing. Trying to get Cecily to run off with you?”