“You would mean that seriously?”
“I should mean it very seriously.”
“Then I shall not propose.”
“It would be a careless thing to do.”
She went into the Lodge, very unhappy, very wet, and very much perturbed. She had a bath, dressed for dinner, and went downstairs to meet Uncle Marcus. Uncle Marcus was clean and dry and dressed for dinner. And he was very serious. Not at all a nice Uncle Marcus: but Diana was quick to see the justice of this. There was no reason he should be nice.
“You were extremely foolish,” he said, “and Hastings is still on the island.” He didn’t look up from the “Scotsman” he was reading. Diana said Mr. St. Jermyn had gone to fetch him.
“Why St. Jermyn, when there are plenty of men about?”
“He went to please me,” said Diana, sitting down on the table—an attitude of hers Uncle Marcus particularly disliked.
“Because he is in love with you he goes to fetch another man who is also in love with you. You will find it difficult to choose between them. You are under an obligation to one and you have—”
“Captain Hastings would never retaliate.”