He defended himself lamely, aware of the truth.
"Never mind!" she added vindictively. "I shall amuse myself to-night."
"Sassoon or Harrigan Blood?" he said, pinching her ear.
"Perhaps."
She refused to be enticed from her offended dignity. When they reached Miss Pim's, contrary to his determination, he descended and went up-stairs with her, seeking, with a quick pity in his heart, to repair the effects of his ill-humor. Then, judging the moment auspicious, he began gravely:
"Dodo, where is this going to end?"
"What? Which?" she said, frowning and whirling about, as if she had not understood.
He repeated the question with even more seriousness.
"I want to be genuine!" she said, stamping her foot. "I don't want to be dissecting everything I do before I do it! Whatever comes, I want it to come without calculation!"
He groaned aloud.