“You ARE silly, you know I like you, or else I shouldn’t be here, should I?”
They were old customers at the little restaurant in Soho by now, and the patronne gave them a smile as they came in. The waiter was obsequious.
“Let me order the dinner tonight,” said Mildred.
Philip, thinking her more enchanting than ever, gave her the menu, and she chose her favourite dishes. The range was small, and they had eaten many times all that the restaurant could provide. Philip was gay. He looked into her eyes, and he dwelt on every perfection of her pale cheek. When they had finished Mildred by way of exception took a cigarette. She smoked very seldom.
“I don’t like to see a lady smoking,” she said.
She hesitated a moment and then spoke.
“Were you surprised, my asking you to take me out and give me a bit of dinner tonight?”
“I was delighted.”
“I’ve got something to say to you, Philip.”
He looked at her quickly, his heart sank, but he had trained himself well.