"You've treated me damned badly," said Banstead, turning on his heel. "Good-bye, everybody."
Austin, moved by compunction, tried to conciliate the angry youth, but he refused comfort. He had been made a fool of, and would stand that from nobody. He would not stay for dinner, and would not put his foot inside the house again.
"At any rate," said Austin, bidding him good-bye, "I can rely on you not to breathe a word to anyone of what you've heard this evening?"
Banstead fingered his underfed moustache.
"I may be pretty rotten, but I'm not that kind of cad," said he. And he went, not without a certain dignity.
Dick took Viviette's hand and kissed it tenderly.
"God bless you, dear. I'll remember what you've said all my life. I can go away almost happy."
"You can go away quite happy, if you like," said Viviette. "Take me with you."
"To Vancouver?"
Austin joined them. "It is impossible, dear," said he.