I began to feel somewhat of a martyr.  ’Yes, it was rather a surprise,’ I remarked.

‘Only a moment before,’ continued William, ’Mrs. Warrington had said to me, “If you do kiss me, I shall never forgive you!"’ Oh, clumsy, clumsy William!

‘Then you had been discussing it,’ commented Marion, who seemed unusually chilly about the innocent affair.

‘Well, I’m hungry, so let’s have dinner now,’ suggested Henry, ’and we can settle the discussion afterwards.’

But William strode to the door.  ’No, no, Henry, I cannot break bread in your house again after this distressing incident.  I have imposed on your kindness and good faith, disturbed your trust in me——­’

’Well, I forgive you this time if you promise never to bestow any of those, what d’ye call ’em—­labial salutes on Netta again.  Now let’s have dinner.’

‘No, no, old man, you may forgive me, but I shall never forgive myself.’

Henry began to look irritated.  ’For Heaven’s sake, Netta, tell him the truth and admit it was your fault, or we shall never get anything to eat to-night.’

I sighed, and going up to William gently pulled back his retreating form by the coat tails.  ‘You are young, Father William,’ I said, ’and innocent in the wiles of women.  You’ve only been born a few hours as far as they are concerned—­I don’t think it’s quite safe for you to go about without your beard just yet.  I will tell you nothing but the truth.  I incited you to kiss me.’

‘I knew it!’ snapped Marion.

’Henry, as you see, has treated me under the First Offenders Act and forgiven me.  And now, William, I will kiss you once again (with Henry’s full consent) for your youth and innocence.’  And I suited the action to the word.  ‘So will Marion, won’t you, dear?’

At this William started as if shot.  ‘Never, never!’ he exclaimed, staring at Marion with a hunted look, ’it would be preposterous—­infamous.’

The situation was decidedly awkward, especially as Marion, going suddenly pale, gave a little hysterical sort of cry and ran out of the room.

The meal that followed was a silent one.  Marion did not speak at all, and when she was not casting furtive glances in William’s direction, kept her gaze fixed on her plate.  William was monosyllabic, partly, I gathered, on account of recent events, and partly because one of his patent leather boots was obviously causing him anguish.  I noticed that he occasionally lifted his foot (as an animal raises a wounded paw) and then set it down again with a sort of half moan.