“He has it all to himself. I had half, but I have relinquished it.”
Doris raised her eyebrows.
“You have relinquished it?”
“You see, he proposes to ask Miss Audrey to join him, and you.”
“And me? Mr Carter proposes to ask me?”
Doris’ eyebrows went a little higher. Mr Purchase hurried on, as if he deemed hurry advisable.
“So I hope to be able to get another box for myself, as I am extremely anxious to ask Miss Norah to share it with me.”
“You are anxious—to ask Norah to share it with you?”
Doris’ face was a study. I could have laughed out loud, although, even while I sat, I was shivering in my shoes. His audacity was beyond anything—at least I thought so, until Mr Carter tried his hand.
“Excuse me, Miss Audrey, but that is not a correct statement of the case. It is you, Miss Doris, that Jack proposes to ask, in the hope, Miss Audrey, that you will join them. I, on the other hand, have already asked Miss Norah to favour my box with the honour of her presence.”