But she said with perfect propriety, "I hope you are not much hurt, Rex; I deserve that you should reproach me for your accident." "Not at all," said Rex, feeling the soul within him spreading itself like an attack of illness.

"There is hardly any thing the matter with me.

I am so glad you had the pleasure: I would willingly pay for it by a tumble, only I was sorry to break the horse's knees." Gwendolen walked to the hearth and stood looking at the fire in the most inconvenient way for conversation, so that he could only get a side view of her face.
"My father wants me to go to Southampton for the rest of the vacation," said Rex, his baritone trembling a little.
"Southampton! That's a stupid place to go to, isn't it ?" said Gwendolen, chilly.
"It would be to me, because you would not be there." Silence.
"Should you mind about me going away, Gwendolen ?" "Of course.

Every one is of consequence in this dreary country," said Gwendolen, curtly.

The perception that poor Rex wanted to be tender made her curl up and harden like a sea-anemone at the touch of a finger.
"Are you angry with me, Gwendolen?
Why do you treat me in this way all at once ?" said Rex, flushing, and with more spirit in his voice, as if he too were capable of being angry.
Gwendolen looked round at him and smiled.