Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/245

Rh "That's all very well; but I don't see why you should attack me the moment you come back."

"Who wouldn't?" said Dolly. "I come back believing all you said about never forgetting me, and I find you having tea with another girl."

"You should have given me notice, and I would have broken it to you gently that I had my sister staying with me."

"If you're going to be sarcastic!" said Dolly angrily. "But, there, I didn't come to quarrel with you."

"I should hope not," I said; and a glance round the King's Walk Bench assuring me that few people were about, I caught hold of her and kissed her.

I heard a soft little sigh breathe out of her; but for my part I was discomfited by the discovery that I did not draw from the kiss the pleasure I deserved.

"I must hurry up," she said in a far more gracious tone. "When will you come and see me? For it's no good my coming to see you with—your sister making a third. I'm living in a flat, 79 Northampton Mansions, with another girl."

"I'll come and fetch you out to dinner on Thursday, about seven, if you'll come."

"I should like to, awfully," she said.

We came out into Fleet Street; I put her in a cab and went back to Angel.