Page:Anthony Hope - The Dolly Dialogues.djvu/84

 'Do try to make Mr. Carter understand!'

We were left alone. George wore a meditative smile. Presently he roused himself to say,—

'She's really a very kind woman. She's so sympathetic. She's not like you. I expect she felt it once herself, you know.'

'One can never tell,' said I carelessly. 'Perhaps she did—once.'

George fell to brooding again. I thought I would try an experiment.

'Not altogether bad-looking, either, is she?' I asked, lighting a cigarette.

George started.

'What? Oh, well, I don't know. I suppose some people might think so.'

He paused, and added, with a bashful, knowing smile,—

'You can hardly expect me to go into raptures about her, can you, old man?'

I turned my head away, but he caught me.

'Oh, you needn't smile in that infernally patronising way,' he cried angrily.

'Upon my word, George, [sic] said I, 'I don't know that I need.'