I gave him an affectionate glance. I was certainly very fond of Grahame.
“You should ask him if he would not like me to be his best man,” I said.
We both laughed.
“I should think he rather objects to my coming to the wedding at all. I’m coming, all the same.”
Grahame said nothing, and I guessed that there had been some discussion on the subject. I knew that Lionel Holland was not by any means above the vulgarity of showing temper should I be asked against his wish.
“Come and see us on Sunday. Lionel won’t be there, and Sibella particularly told me to ask you.”
“I’ll come,” I said. I wondered why Sibella was anxious to see me. “You’ll be awfully dull at home without her,” I added.
“Yes; she may not have much heart, but at the same time she’s jolly good company.”
“Yes, that’s exactly the expression. Even when we were children she always kept things going.”
We both grew a little quiet and thoughtful. I had had delightful times in the Hallward schoolroom with Grahame and Sibella, but I had travelled far since then. I was fighting also against a great and torturing jealousy. I was by practice enabled to keep this feeling well under control, but it had a habit of having a hasty nibble at my heart-strings when I was not on the alert.