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“What did he do that for?”

“He was kind enough to ask me to dinner. I didn’t want to go.”

“Is he in love with you, too?”

“I don’t know what right you have to ask me such stupid, personal questions.”

“Can’t you answer them?”

“Certainly if I choose to,” she replied, with a little flare of spirit.

“And you don’t choose?”

“No.”

“That’s all right. You’ve answered the question.”

She stopped.

“Rodney, I’ll go home if you can’t behave decently to me.”

He was silent for a moment.

“I’ll do my best,” he said at last, rather grudgingly. “You can’t expect me to have such beautiful manners as Waring.”

“Why can’t I?”

“I never went to an expensive school.”

“Consideration for the feelings of other people hasn’t anything to do with expensive schools.”

“And has Waring shown much consideration for the feelings of others? For the boss, for instance?”

What did he mean by that, she wondered? How much did he know?

“I didn’t go out with Mr. Waring, and I’m here now with you,” she said, “so I don’t think we need discuss him any more. Tell me about yourself. How’s Nigger? Is he in training?”

“Yes. I saw him today. He’s entered for the autumn steeplechase here, and then I’m taking him to Christchurch.”