“I wouldn’t if you gave up the world.”
She rose a little impatiently, feeling that this was going too far, and started for the door of the dining-room.
“At least you’ll tell me where you live?” he pressed her. “Let me go home with you now.”
“Don’t you have to work in the middle of the afternoon?”
“Nobody’s working much. It’s too hot.”
“Then go play with Barbara. I’ve other things to do.”
Possibly it was the heat and the sense of effort which got nowhere that made Ted’s face intense and angry. He saw her about to slip away again.
“You can’t go like this, Freda, I’ve only just found you.”
“You’d better let me,” answered Freda, “because I see Maud Dubonnet looking at you and she knows you and obviously isn’t intending to speak to me though I lunched at her house, so you see it will be hot with you when Barbara hears this.”
Against his will Ted looked up and saw Maud truly, with two other girls and three young men coming into the room. They had to pass Ted and Freda as they stood there, discussing. Maud Dubonnet was the only one of the group whom Freda knew. The others all evidently knew Ted and glanced at him with some interest. Maud did not look at Freda. She held her head stiffly as she passed, then said something to the others which made them turn with an attempt at casualness to look at the man and girl. Ted delayed no longer. He followed Freda out.