His surmise returned.

She must have seen him kiss Frances.

Yet even then Gerald did not know why it should make Miss Jakes weep that he should behave like a donkey.
'May I sit down here ?' he asked, genuinely grieved and genuinely anxious to find out what the matter was.
'Certainly,' said Althea in chilly tones.
He was a little confused.

It had something to do with the kissing, he felt sure.

'Miss Jakes, I'm afraid you'll never believe me a serious person,' he said.
'Why should you be serious ?' said Althea.
'You are angry with me,' Gerald remarked dismally.
'Why should I be angry ?' He raised his eyebrows, detached a bit of loosened wood from the seat, and skipped it over the water.