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‘Crick didn’t exactly say that he would no longer require you. But, knowing what our relations were, he said in the most good-natured and respectful manner possible that he supposed on my leaving at Christmas I should take you with me, and on my asking what he would do without you he merely observed that, as a matter of fact, it was a time of year when he could do with a very little female help. I am afraid I was sinner enough to feel rather glad that he was in this way forcing your hand.’

‘I don’t think you ought to have felt glad, Angel. Because ’tis always mournful not to be wanted, even if at the same time ’tis convenient.’

‘Well, it is convenient—you have admitted that.’ He put his finger upon her cheek. ‘Ah!’ he said.

‘What?’

‘I feel the red rising up at her having been caught! But why should I trifle so! We will not trifle—life is too serious.’

‘It is—I saw that before you did.’

She was seeing it then. To decline to marry him after all—in obedience to her emotion of last