"Not Mrs. Ascott!" she exclaimed, halting.
"Not Mrs. Ascott."
"Mrs. Tom O'Hara! Is it? Every man promptly goes to smash when Mrs. Tom looks sideways."
"O Lord!" he said with a shrug.
"That is not nice of you, Mr. Hamil. If it is not with her you have fallen in love there is a more civil way of denying it."
"Did you take what I said seriously?" he asked—"about falling in love?"
"Were you not serious?"
"I could be if you were," he said in a tone which slightly startled her. She looked up at him questioningly; he said:
"I've had a stupid time without you. The little I've seen of you has spoiled other women for me. And I've just found it out. Do you mind my saying so?"
"Are you not a little over-emphatic in your loyalty to me? I like it, but not at the expense of others, please."