The desperate wretch, who had not dared even to glance in Marjorie's direction, somehow thought he saw a straw of self-defense. "You were engaged to three or four others when I was at West Point."
"I may have been engaged to the others," said Kathleen, moon-eyeing him, "but I always liked you best, Clifford—er, Tommy—I mean Harry."
"You got me at last."
Kathleen fenced back at this: "Well, I've no doubt you have had a dozen affairs since."
"Oh, no! My heart has only known one real love." He threw this over her head at Marjorie, but Kathleen seized it, to his greater confusion: "Oh, Harry, how sweet of you to say it. It makes me feel positively faint," and she swooned his way, but he shoved a chair forward and let her collapse into that. Thinking and hoping that she was unconscious, he made ready to escape, but she caught him by the coat, and moaned: "Where am I?" and he growled back:
"In the Observation Car!"
Kathleen's life and enthusiasm returned without delay: "Fancy meeting you again! I could just scream."
"So could I."
"You must come up in our car and see mamma."
"Is Ma-mamma with you?" Mallory stammered, on the verge of imbecility.