"I loved you the moment I saw you ... that day in the Park when I was with Gilbert ... I loved you then. I didn't know who you were, but I loved you. I couldn't help it, Cecily. You were looking at Gilbert and then your eyes shifted and you looked at me, and I loved you, dear. I worried Gilbert to tell me about you!..."
"What did he say?" she interrupted eagerly, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her chin in the cup of her hands.
"He told me who you were," Henry answered awkwardly.
"But didn't he say anything else?... didn't he?..."
"I've forgotten what he said.... Then I saw you at the St. James's ... he told me you often went to first-nights, and I went specially, hoping to see you!..."
"Dear Paddy," she said, "and you were so shy!"
"And so jealous and angry because you talked all the time to Gilbert, and ignored me. You made me go out of the box with Jimphy, and as I went, I saw you putting your hand out to touch Gilbert, and I heard you calling him, 'Gilbert, darling.' ..."
She laughed, but did not speak.
"And I was frightfully jealous. Gilbert's my best friend, Cecily, but I hated him that night. I suppose ... oh, I don't know!"
"What were you going to say!" she asked.