“That was mere chance.”

She slipped her arm through his in the old way.

“Dear Christopher, I love Nevil, and he’s awfully good, but you are like my own brother. Please pretend you are really. If I had a brother, he would see Geoffry for me.”

“But Nevil might not like it.”

It was a difficult pass, for how could he explain to her it was of Geoffry he was thinking, not of Nevil. His evasion at least raised a little smile.

“Nevil! An explanation taken off his hands!” She spread her own abroad in mock amazement.

“Tell him yourself, Patricia.”

“Christopher!”

He looked straight ahead, a certain rigidness in the outline of his face betokening a decision at variance with his will.

“What am I to tell him?”