"Only--please, do go and tell Major Hunt-Goring that--that--there's been a mistake, and--in short--" "In short that you've thrown me over ?" said Max.

"Oh, thanks, no! You can tell him that--if you wish!" "He must be told," she said.
"I don't see why." Max smiled upon her with good-natured indulgence.
"Have you suddenly taken fright at something ?" he asked.
She smiled also, but a little anxiously.

"I'm afraid it wasn't a very wise move after all.

I want to put an end to it." "You can't put an end to an engagement that doesn't exist," he said.
"You will have to wait till I propose, and then you can go and tell everyone--including Hunt-Goring--that you have said No." It was impossible to treat the matter seriously.

She had a feeling that he was deliberately restraining her from so doing, deliberately offering her an easy means of escape from her own indiscretion.