Page:The Yellow Book - 06.djvu/165

 love with Dicky Askew, whatever Dicky Askew may be with me, and that I won't be left alone with Dicky Askew until I have heard all his stories twice over and he is obliged to propose for the sake of more conversation. I never want to speak to Dicky Askew again; I should like him to be obliterated."

"My dear," said Cynthia, "I don't keep Dicky Askew on the premises. Did you really put on a new hat on purpose to come and tell me something that doesn't concern me at all? " "Doesn't concern you?" cried Margaret. "I should like to know whom it does concern then."

"Dicky Askew, I should say. Really, my dear child, I am very sorry I mistook your feelings; I won t make up a party for you again."

"It was not," said Margaret with great dignity, "the party that I objected to. It was only Dicky Askew." "I did it out of kindness," replied Cynthia, ignoring her insinuation.

"Then I hope you will never ask me to dinner again out of kindness, or if you do, please shut me in here with the man I am not in love with," responded Margaret. "I should not have minded at all if I had spent the evening with the man I was not in love with, last night."

"I think you are right," said Cynthia quietly, and she stroked the child s hot cheek soothingly as she spoke, "passing the evening with the man you are in love with is very exhausting indeed. We will try the opposite arrangement next time. Will you come out with me this afternoon?"

"Where to?" asked Margaret suspiciously.

"Hurlingham, of course."

"It's too bad," cried the girl indignantly, "you knew he was going