"I don't know, indeed," said Jack. "I'm awfully cut up about it. The worst of it is, I asked him to come."
"You asked him!"
"Some time ago, dearest, when everything was different. I thought I must make the fight for both our sakes, and I sent for Sid, thinking it might help to have him here with me."
"Did you indeed," said Esmée, coldly. "What a pity he did not come before it was too late; he might have saved us both. How long ago was it, please?"
"Esmée, don't speak to me like that."
"But do you realize what you are saying?"
"You should not mind what I say. Think—what shall we do if it should be Sid? It rests with you, Esmée. Could you bear to meet him?"
"What is he like?" said Esmée, trembling.
"Oh, he's a lovely fellow. There's nobody like Sid."
"What does he look like?"