“Ah!” he said to her fiercely, “I’d rather you said that to me than said you love me! It means such a lot more.⁠ ⁠… Till afternoon then. I’ve plenty to think about till then.” He kissed her hands humbly and was gone.

“I don’t think I can stand that young man,” said Clifford at lunch.

“Why?” asked Connie.

“He’s such a bounder underneath his veneer⁠ ⁠… just waiting to bounce us.”

“I think people have been so unkind to him,” said Connie.

“Do you wonder? And do you think he employs his shining hours doing deeds of kindness?”

“I think he has a certain sort of generosity.”

“Towards whom?”

“I don’t quite know.”