He felt himself perspiring profusely.
"Beatrice, do you know why I don't want to go?" he burst forth.
Beatrice remained silent, lightly tapping the stone balustrade with her foot. When she spoke it was with perfect self-possession.
"You're not going to be tiresome again, are you, Tommy?"
"Yes!" said Tommy fervently.
Again she paused. "Are you really fond of me, Tommy?" she asked unexpectedly.
"Oh, Lord, yes!"
"How fond?"
"Oh ... frightf'ly!... What do you mean, how fond? You know! Do you want me to throw myself into the sea?... I would," he added in a low voice.
"I didn't mean how much, exactly, but in what way? What do you mean by it all?"