"Well, then, following out my theorem logically, what is a man to do when, without an instant's warning, he finds himself——"
There was a pause, a long one.
"Finds himself where?" asked Molly Sandys.
"In love."
"I—I don't know," she said, faintly. "Doesn't the simple life teach him what is—is proper—on such brief acquaintance——"
"I didn't say the acquaintance was brief. I only said the love was sudden."
"Oh—then I—I don't know——"
"M-Mo-Mi-M-M——"
He wanted to say "Molly," and he didn't want to say "Miss Sandys," and he couldn't keep his mouth shut, so that was the phonetic result—a muttering monotone which embarrassed them both and maddened him till he stammered out: "The moment I saw you I—I can't help it; it's the simplest thing to do, anyhow—to tell you——"