"Well! Such things do occur. Moonlight, you know, etc. I was possessed by a devil once, and proposed by moonlight, as all my wife's friends know, and probably her maid. But, seriously, Dick, you are not making progress, as you say yourself."
"Well!" rather sullenly.
"Well, on-lookers see most of the game. Miss West may—I don't say she is—but if things go on as they are for another week she may become slightly bored. That was why I joined you at supper. She had had, for the time, enough."
"Of me?" said Dick, reddening under his tan.
"Just so. It is a matter of no importance after marriage, but it should be avoided beforehand. Are you really in earnest about this?"
Dick delivered himself slowly and deliberately of certain platitudes.
"Well, I hope I shall hear you say all that again some day in a condensed form before a clergyman. In the meanwhile—"
"In the meanwhile I had better clear out."
"Yes; I don't enjoy saying so in the presence of my own galantine and mayonnaise, but that is it. Go, and—come back."
"If you have a Bradshaw," said Dick, "I'll look out my train now. I think there is an express to London about seven in the morning, if you can send me to the station."