"I wanted you to come here on Tuesday."
"You never said anything about it. Will you be alone?"
"I'm afraid not. Eric, will you be honourable? It's my half-birthday; I always have two a year. I didn't tell you, because I was afraid you'd rush out and buy me a present. And I couldn't bear to receive anything more from you. But will you come without a present? I've got a little party."
"I should love it. Thank you, Babs. But I want to see you alone."
She was silent for several moments.
"You're very mysterious, darling," she said at last.
"I heard something to-night that rather upset me——"
"About Jack?"
A thrill of expectation had come into her voice.
"Oh, no! It's one of those things that wouldn't matter if we weren't all congenital idiots."