"It's all right, Aunt Selina." He felt himself grinning like a monkey, but couldn't seem to stop himself.
But Aunt Selina herself could do nothing but laugh. Presently she rose from her seat and embraced her nephew.
"That top button has come off," she said. "I'm afraid you'll get your neck wet." Then they looked at each other and laughed again. There was really nothing more to be said.
James' feet sounded on the stairs above.
"I shan't be home for dinner," said Harry, starting toward the door. "And you might tell Beatrice," he added.
He walked with James for three hours or more. It may have been the calming influence of exercise or it may have been the comforting effect that James' society generally had on him; at any rate, when the time came he found himself able to say what he had to without any of the embarrassment he had expected.
He chose the moment when they had all but reached the crossroad that would take him off to the Gilsons'.
"James," he said, breaking a long silence, "I've got something rather important to tell you. I'm engaged."
"To whom?"
"Madge Elliston."