After he had driven on, screwing up his courage, it appeared that Mr.
Pryor also had a cannon to face. Helena Richie came out into the
garden, and found. him sitting on a bench built round a great silver
poplar. Her face was worried. "I ought not to have made poor Maggie
get up yesterday," she said, "but I was so distressed not to have a
good dinner for you."
"Well, at least you need have no anxieties about supper; we've had an
invitation," "An invitation! From Dr, King? Well, that's very nice in him. But, of
course--"
"I told him we would come"
"You told him we would come!"
"I couldn't help it, Nelly. People who invite you face to face are
perfect nuisances. But, really, it's no great matter--for once, And I
knew it would be a convenience for you. Besides, I wanted a good
supper."
"Well, we must make some excuse."
"There isn't any excuse to make," he explained, good-naturedly: "I
tried to find one and couldn't. We've got to go."
"I sha'n't go."
He looked at her from under his heavy eyelids; then blew two smoke
wreaths slowly. "You're a queer creature."
She turned on him hotly. "Queer? Because I won't go out to supper with
you? I'd be queer if I did! I'm entirely satisfied with myself, Lloyd;
I consider that I have a perfect right to be happy in my own way. You
know I don't care a copper for what you call 'morality'! it's nothing
but cowardly conventionality. But I won't go out to supper with you."
"Please don't let us have a tirade," he said "I thought it would be
more convenient for you. That's always the way with your sex, Helena,
you do a thing to help them out, and they burst into tears."
"I haven't burst into tears," she said sullenly, "but I won't go."
"Come, now! don't be a goose. I wouldn't make a practice of accepting
their invitations; but for once, what does it matter?"
"Can't you understand?" she said passionately; "they are kind to
me!"
She turned quickly and ran into the garden, leaving him to call after
her: "Well, you've got to go to-night, because I've accepted."
"I won't go to-night!" she flung back, her voice breaking.
Lloyd Pryor shook his head. "And she wonders I don't come oftener," he
said to himself.