Page:The Tragic Muse (London & New York, Macmillan & Co., 1890), Volume 3.djvu/121

Rh early, would this be decent, would it be fair. His taking Biddy the night he dined with her and with Miss Tressilian had been something very like a violation of those proprieties. He couldn't say this to Nick, who remarked in a moment that it was all right, for Peter's action left him his own freedom.

"Your own freedom?" Peter echoed interrogatively, turning round.

"Why, you see now I can go to the theatre myself."

"Certainly; I hadn't thought of that. You would have been going."

"I gave it up for the prospect of your company."

"Upon my word, you're too good—I don't deserve such sacrifices," said Sherringham, who saw from Nick's face that this was not a figure of speech but the absolute truth. "Didn't it however occur to you that, as it would turn out, I might—that I even naturally would—myself be going?" he added.

Nick broke into a laugh. "It would have occurred to me if I understood a little better—" And he paused, still laughing.

"If you understood a little better what?" Peter demanded.

"Your situation, simply."

Peter looked at him a moment. "Dine with me to-night independently; we'll go to the theatre together, and then you'll understand it."

"With pleasure, with pleasure: we'll have a jolly evening," said Nick.

"Call it jolly if you like. When did you say she was coming?" Peter asked.