“Oh, I don’t mind that,” Jenny said sharply.  “It’s the girls you’ve fooled.”

“Don’t you believe it, Jenny.  They’ve always been wiser than me.  Say they’ve known a bit more.  You’re different ...”  Jenny shook her head, sighing.

“I bet they’ve all been that,” she slowly said.  “Till the next one.”  The old unhappiness had returned, gripping her heart.  She no longer looked at him, but stared away, straight in front of her.

“Well, what if they had all been different?” Keith persisted.  “Supposing I were to tell you about them, each one....  There’s no time for it, Jenny.  You’ll have to take my word for it.  You’ll do that if you want to.  If you want to believe in me.  Do you?”

“Of course I do!” Jenny blazed.  “I can’t!  Be different if I was at home.  But I’m here, and you knew I’d come.  D’you see what I mean?”

“You’re not in a trap, old girl,” said Keith.  “You can go home this minute if you think you are.”  His colour also rose.  “You make too much fuss.  You want me to tell you good fat lies to save your face.  Don’t be a juggins, Jenny!  Show your spirit!  Jenny!”

Keith still held her hand.  He drew it towards him, and Jenny was made to lean by his sudden movement.  He slipped his arm again round her.  Jenny did not yield herself.  He was conscious of rebuff, although she did not struggle.

“You want me to trust you blindfold,” she said in a dreary voice.  “It’s not good enough, Keith.  Really it isn’t!  When you don’t trust me.  You sent for me, and I came.  As soon as I was here you ... you were as beastly as you could be ...”  Her voice trembled.

“Not really beastly ...”  Keith urged, and his coaxing tone and concerned expression shook her.  “Nice beastly, eh?”

“You weren’t nice.  You weren’t ...”  Jenny hesitated.  “You didn’t ... you weren’t nice.”

“I didn’t want to frighten you.”

Jenny drew herself up, frantically angry.

“Now who’s lying!” she savagely cried, and put her hands to disengage herself.  “Oh Keith, I’m so sick of it!” He held her more tightly.  All her efforts were unavailing against that slowly increased pressure from his strong arms.

“Listen, Jenny,” Keith said.  “I love you.  That’s that.  I wanted to see you more than anything on earth.  I wanted to kiss you.  Good God, Jen....  D’you think you’re the easiest person in the world to manage?”

iii

The bewilderment that succeeded clove the silence.  Jenny gasped against her will.

“What do you mean?” she demanded.

“You think I’m looking on you as cheap ... when I’m in an absolute funk of you!” Keith cried.

“O-oh!” Her exclamation was incredulity itself.  Keith persisted warmly: