"Daisy," I said, "I've got to go out now."
She seemed surprised.
"Oh, why didn't you tell me I'd been keeping you!" she said, getting up at once.
I muttered that I was awfully sorry….
I packed her off. I closed the door in the hoarding behind her. Then I walked straight across the yard to Benlian's.
He was lying on a couch, not doing anything.
"I know I ought to have come sooner, Benlian," I said, "but I had somebody with me."
"Yes," he said, looking hard at me; and I got a bit red.
"She's awfully nice," I stammered; "but you never bother with girls, and you don't drink or smoke—"
"No," he said.