"Practically," said Julian, "but I don't see why you should fly into a rage over it. In your case, then, if it had been your case, you would simply have broken off the engagement at once, like a sensible girl?"
"I can't imagine myself in such a situation," said Stella, getting up indignantly.
"Naturally," interposed Julian smoothly. "But, still, if you had happened, by some dreadful mischance, to find yourself engaged to me—"
"I should have broken it off directly," said Stella, turning to go—"directly I found out—"
"Found out what?" asked Julian.
"That you were nothing but a cold-blooded tease!" cried Stella over her shoulder.
"You perfect darling!" said Julian under his breath. "By Jove! that was a narrow squeak!"
CHAPTER XXIII
It puzzled Stella extremely that she found herself unable to say, "What is it that you want, Julian?" She knew that there was something that he wanted, and there was nothing that she would dream of denying him. What, therefore, could be simpler than asking him? And yet she did not want to ask him.