"It is true! I can't possibly marry you! I ought to have seen that at the start!"

"Why? Have you got a husband who's an RC and won't give you a divorce, or any little thing like that?" enquired Timothy, interested.

"No, of course not!"

"Oh, well, then we needn't worry!"

"That's what you think!" said Beulah crudely. "Look here, I - the thing is - There are things in my life you don't know anything about!"

"Good God, I should hope there were!" retorted Timothy. "I've only known you a month!"

"And some of them you wouldn't like!"

"I daresay. Come to think of it, I can tell you of one thing in your young life I don't like right now, and that's Mr. Daniel Seaton-Carew."

She flushed. "He's not a thing in my life: you needn't worry!"

"That's fine. Dissuade him from putting his arm round you, and calling you his little protegee."

Her colour was still heightened; she kept her eyes on her plate. "It's only his way. He's old enough to be my father!" "Yes, that's what makes it all the more objectionable," said Timothy.

She bit her lip, but said in a sulky voice: "Anyway, it's got nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me. You have plighted your troth to me, my girl."

"It's no use. I can't marry you."

"Then I shall sue you for breach of promise. Why, by the way, have you had this sudden change of heart?"

"It isn't possible. I must have been crazy! I can't think why you want to marry me!"

"Good lord, didn't I tell you? I love you!"

She muttered: "Yes, you told me. That's what I - what I don't understand! Why should you?"

"Oh, I shouldn't worry over that, if I were you!" said Timothy kindly. "Of course, if you insist, I'll enumerate the various things which attract me to you, but they really haven't got much to do with it. To be thoroughly vulgar, we just clicked. Or didn't we?"