He said drily: “It isn’t a case of being shocked. It’s more like being bored.”

“Oh. My friends bore you?”

“Their morals do.... Is Ilse that sort, too?”

“That sort?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I suppose she is.”

114

“Not inclined to bother herself with the formalities of marriage?”

“I suppose not.”

“It’s a mischievous, ridiculous, immoral business!” he said hotly. “Why, to look at you––at Ilse––at Miss Lanois–––”