"You will give it, whatever I say. And it's you all over--to give it, before you've allowed me to explain anything."
"Oh, I know your point of view--" said Geoffrey, unperturbed--"know it by heart. Haven't you dinned it into me at half a dozen dances lately? No!--I'm entitled to my say--and here it is. Claim all the freedom you like--but as you're _not_ twenty-five, but nineteen--let a good fellow like Buntingford give you advice--and be thankful!"
"Prig!" said Helena, pelting him with a spray of wild cherry, which he caught and put in his button-hole. "If that isn't preaching, I should like to know what is!"
"Not at all. Unbiased opinion--civilly expressed. If you really were an emancipated young woman, Helena, you'd take it so! But now--" his tone changed--"let's come to business. What have you and Philip been quarrelling about?"
Helena straightened her shoulders, as though to meet certain disapproval.
"Because--I asked Lord Donald to spend the week-end here--"
"I did; and Cousin Philip wired to him and forbade him the house. Offence No. 1. Then as I intended all the same to see Jim, I told him I would go up and lunch with him at the Ritz. Cousin Philip vows I shan't, and he seems to have some underhand means of stopping it--I--I don't know what--"
"Underhand! Philip! I say, Helena, I wonder whether you have any idea how people who really know him think about Buntingford!"
"Stuff! It's really silly--abominable too--the way you talk of him--I can't help saying it."
And this time it was Geoffrey's turn to look indignant. His long face with its deeply set grey eyes, a rather large nose, and a fine brow under curly hair, had flushed suddenly.
"If you can't help it, I suppose you must say it. But I don't know why I should stay and listen," said Helena provokingly, making a movement as though to rise. But he laid a hand on her dress:
"No, no, Helena, don't go--look here--do you ever happen to notice Buntingford--when he's sitting quiet--and other people are talking round him?"
"Not particularly." The tone was cold, but she no longer threatened departure.
"Well, I just ask you--some time--to _watch_. An old friend of his said to me the other day--'I often feel that Buntingford is the saddest man I know.'"
