She gave him a flash of her dark, fine eyes.
“I really ought to break myself of the habit. It’s absurd to behave like a child when you’re my age, but I’m comfortable with my legs under me.”
“It’s awfully jolly to be sitting in this room again,” said Philip happily. “You don’t know how I’ve missed it.”
“Why on earth didn’t you come before?” she asked gaily.
“I was afraid to,” he said, reddening.
She gave him a look full of kindness. Her lips outlined a charming smile.
“You needn’t have been.”
He hesitated for a moment. His heart beat quickly.
“D’you remember the last time we met? I treated you awfully badly—I’m dreadfully ashamed of myself.”
She looked at him steadily. She did not answer. He was losing his head; he seemed to have come on an errand of which he was only now realising the outrageousness. She did not help him, and he could only blurt out bluntly.