“A full and particular account of all my doings!” he said. “I say, that sounds formidable, doesn’t it? The only thing is, you’ve had it in my letters.”
“The fullest and most particular?” she laughed.
“The fullest and most particular!”
“Never mind,” she exclaimed, leaning back in her chair again with a restless movement, “I shall catechise all the same. My curiosity knows no limits, you see. Now, you are on your honour as a—as a spoilt boy, understand.”
“On my honour as a spoilt boy! All right. Fire away, mum!”
He pulled himself up, folding his hands with an assumption of “good little boy” demeanour, and laughing into her face. She also drew herself up, and laughed back at him.
“Question one: Have you lost your heart to any pretty girl in the past ten weeks?”
“Question two: Have you flirted—much—with any girl, pretty or plain?”
“No, mum.”