“Well, I guess if I was a princess——”
“You’d throw me over? Thanks, awfully! Do you imagine that if I became a prince it would make any difference to you?”
“Ah, but you’d raise me to your level, any way. I couldn’t raise you.”
“No, indeed, and I’m thankful for it. But don’t let us bother about such nonsense, Fay. You’re no more likely to be a princess than I am to be a prince, so why not recognise the fact and withdraw gracefully, instead of wearing yourself to death worrying about it?”
“Because I don’t feel like acting that way,” said Félicia obstinately. “Well, supposing they did acknowledge me, and we had to break off our engagement, what would you do?”
“What other men do when they’re jilted, I imagine—grin and bear it.”
“Would the world become a blank to you? Would you never believe in a woman again?”
“I should never believe in you again, certainly. But other women—why, there’d be the mater and Phil just the same. Why shouldn’t I believe in them?”
“Well, you might say you wouldn’t, any way,” pouted Félicia.
“Look here,” said Usk. “You said you wanted to be amused, and I hope you are. All this sort of stuff doesn’t amuse me at all. Let’s come out.”