“A pretty figure I'll cut, after all these years,” he complained sulkily. “Everyone will know you jilted me.”
Alice turned to him, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “I wouldn't stand it if I were you. Show your spunk.”
He stared. “What do you mean?”
“Why don't you jilt ME?”
“Jilt you?”
Her head went up and down in a dozen little nods of affirmation. “Yes. Marry Pauline Gillam. You know you'd like to, but you haven't had the courage to give me up. Now that you've got to give me up anyhow—”
“I'm very much obliged, Miss Frome. But I don't think it will be necessary for you to select another wife for me.”
“Have you been married once. I didn't know it.”
“You know what I mean?” He was stiff as a poker.
“I believe I do.” She was in a perfectly good humor again now. “But you better take my advice, Ned. Think what a joke it will be on me. Everybody will say you could have had me.”