“Why did you lie to me?”
“I haven’t lied: I’m not given to that,” said Edward, with natural satisfaction.
“You pretended it was for my health’s sake that I must go upstairs. Isn’t that a lie?”
“It was for your health’s sake.”
“You lie again. You wanted to get me out of the way, so that you might go to the Miss Hancocks without telling me.”
“You ought to know me better than that by now.”
“Why did you say nothing about them till you found it impossible to avoid.”
Edward shrugged his shoulders good-humouredly. “Because I know how touchy you are.”
“And yet you made them the offer.”
“It came out almost unawares. They were grumbling about the weather, and without thinking, I said, ‘I’ll drive you over if you like.’ And they jumped at it.”