“And yet I never meet you. I look out for you every day, but in vain. We never seem to go to the same places.”
“Ah, you are among the rank and fashion, you see, and we are country cousins doing the sights. You visit the real people, and we stare at the images at Madame Tussaud’s. You attend private views, and we go in with the rabble. You go to luncheon parties at The Star and Garter, and we have buns and tea in an ABC shop, and pay an extra penny for cream. We move in different circles, Major Darcy,” cried Peggy, with a toss of the head which contradicted the humility of her words. “It is not to be expected that we should meet. To-morrow morning we are going to the Zoo.”
The big officer looked down at her with admiring eyes, paused just long enough to give added effect to his words, and then said deliberately:
“May I go with you?”
“Certainly not!” replied Peggy promptly; and when Hector demanded her reason, “You would be too great a strain upon us,” she explained. “We should have to behave properly if you were there, and that would spoil the fun. You would be shocked at our behaviour, or if you were not shocked, you would be bored, and that would be even more disastrous.”
“Try me and see. There is no fear of my being bored, and I promise faithfully to be so far from shocked that I will do every single thing that you do yourself.”
“Go round with the crowd and see the animals feed?”
“Certainly, if you wish it.”
“Give biscuits to the elephants?”
“With pleasure! I’d do anything for an elephant. Finest beast you can find.”