What to say to stop him?
"At this moment," she had nearly gasped, "you appear to me so very--fat!" That had bowled him over--naturally! In the next few moments the atmosphere had become chilly and depressed, and with a sudden rush of shame the certainty had grown upon her that she had made a fool of herself, that he had meant to do nothing at all.

And from blushing furiously she had turned a little white, and had said to him: "Please forgive me.

I didn't mean that.

I was--just a silly fool.
Let's go on with my lesson." "Now that I've learned mine, you mean." And then regaining control of herself she had turned upon him quickly: "Oh, be sensible, for goodness' sake! How are you and I to be friends if you act like this, you silly boy?
You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" So she had got out of that all right, and had felt tremendously relieved.

It was not only that she liked the man, he was besides her only hope, the one who could bring friends to her.