"How am I not behaving nicely?"
"Well, you don't pay any attention to him. Do you know what he was doing while you were looking at the cows yesterday?"
Elizabeth reluctantly confessed that she had no idea.
"Well, he was sitting by a lake--a kind of swamp--at the back of the house, reading a book." Philip went off into a fit of laughter.
"Poor Mr. Delaine!" cried Elizabeth, though she too laughed. "It was probably Greek," she added pensively.
"Well, that's funnier still. You know, Elizabeth, he could read Greek at home. It's because you were neglecting him."
"Don't rub it in, Philip," said Elizabeth, flushing. Then she moved up to him and laid a coaxing hand on his arm. "Do you know that I have been awake half the night?"
"All along of Delaine? Shall I tell him?"
"Philip, I just want you to be a dear, and hold your tongue," said Lady Merton entreatingly. "When there's anything to tell, I'll tell you. And if I have--"
"Have what?"