"
"Why, your least wish--" the young man began--then checked himself
hastily--"must be always important," he went on, in a different voice,
"to everyone of your acquaintance."
Daphne rose hurriedly. "Look here, Hilda," she said, a little
tremulously, biting her lip, "I have to go out into Westbourne Grove to
get those gloves for to-night, and a spray for my hair; will you excuse
me for half an hour?"
Holsworthy rose too. "Mayn't I go with you?" he asked, eagerly.
"Oh, if you like. How very kind of you!" Daphne answered, her cheek a
blush rose. "Hubert, will you come too? and you, Hilda?"
It was one of those invitations which are given to be refused. I did not
need Hilda's warning glance to tell me that my company would be quite
superfluous. I felt those two were best left together.
"It's no use, though, Dr. Cumberledge!" Hilda put in, as soon as they
were gone. "He WON'T propose, though he has had every encouragement.
I don't know what's the matter; but I've been watching them both for
weeks, and somehow things seem never to get any forwarder."
"You think he's in love with her?" I asked.
"In love with her! Well, you have eyes in your head, I know; where could
they have been looking? He's madly in love--a very good kind of love,
too.
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