“That’s not what you were going to say. You were going to say that you’d jump into the water and swim after her, or some such nonsense. You can be perfectly cool and calm about my going, but when it comes to Bridgie—”
“If it’ll please you better, I’ll begin to howl this minute! I don’t often, but when I do, it seems as if I could never stop. I thought,” Pixie added reproachfully, “when a girl was engaged the man thought her perfect, and everything she did, and she sat listening while he sang her praises from morn to night. But you find fault—”
“I don’t call it finding fault to wish you would show more feeling! It’s the best sort of compliment, if you could only see it.”
“I like my compliments undiluted, not wrapped up in reproaches, like powder in jam. Besides, you’re fairly complacent yourself! I heard you telling Geoffrey that you expected to have a real good time.”
“And suppose I did? What about that? Would you prefer me to be lonely, and miserable?”
“Oh dear!” cried Pixie poignantly; “we’re quarrelling! Whose fault was it? Was it mine? I’m sorry, Stanor. Don’t let’s quarrel! I want you to be happy. Could I love you if I didn’t do that? I want it more than anything else. Honor is coming to-morrow, and I shall ask her to look after you for me. She knows so many people, and is so rich that she has the power to help. She will be glad to have you so near. Why is she going home so soon, Stanor? I thought—”
“So did we all, but it’s fallen through somehow. I met Carr in town looking the picture of woe, but, naturally, he didn’t vouchsafe any explanation. Honor will probably unburden herself to you to-morrow.”
“She will. If she doesn’t I shall ask her,” said Pixie calmly. “I’m crossed in love myself, so I can understand. It’s no use trying to sympathise till you’ve had a taste of the trouble yourself. Has it ever occurred to you to notice the mad ways most people set about sympathising? Sticking needles all over you while they’re trying to be kind. Sympathising is an art, you know, and you have to adapt it to each person. Some like a little and some like a lot, and some like cheering up, and others want you to cry with them and make the worst of everything, and then it’s off their minds and they perk up. Bridgie and I used to think sometimes of hiring ourselves out as professional sympathisers, for there seems such a lack of people who can do it properly.”
“Suppose you give me a demonstration now! You haven’t been too generous in that respect, Pixie.”
Pixie looked at him, her head on one side, her eyes very intent and serious.