What honest woman would have anything to do with me--or what honest man either ?" I had nothing to say about that; so I said again.
"Well, don't go, anyhow." She spoke in lower tones, as she answered this appeal of mine: "I daren't refuse.

He'll be here again; and my mother--" "Put it off a day or two," said I."And don't take that thing." She looked at me, it seemed to me, in astonishment.
"Do you really care ?" she asked, speaking very low.
I nodded.

I did care, somehow.
"Enough to stand by me, if I don't go ?" I nodded again.
"I daren't refuse right out.

My mother and he--" She broke off.
"Have something the matter with you: flutters or something," I suggested.
The ghost of a smile appeared on her face.
"You'll stay ?" she asked.
I had to stay, anyhow.

Perhaps I ought to have said so, and not stolen credit; but all I did was to nod again.
"And, if I ask you, you'll--you'll stand between me and him ?" I hoped that my meeting with the duke would not be in a strong light; but I only said: "Rather! I'll do anything I can, of course." She did not thank me; she looked at me again.