I'm awfully sorry--but I _couldn't_ stay with
her, and I'm certain you wouldn't be happy either."
"I should be perfectly happy," said Meadows, with vehemence. "And so
would you, if you weren't so critical and censorious. Anyway"--his
Jove-like mouth shut firmly--"I have promised."
"You couldn't promise for me!" cried Doris, holding her head very high.
"Then you'll have to let me go without you?"
"Which, of course, was what you swore not to do!" she said, provokingly.
"I thought my wife was a reasonable woman! Lady Dunstable rouses all my
powers; she gives me ideas which may be most valuable. It is to the
interest of both of us that I should keep up my friendship with her."
"Then keep it up," said Doris, her cheeks aflame. "But you won't want
me to help you, Arthur."
He cried out that it was only pride and conceit that made her behave so.
In her heart of hearts, Doris mostly agreed with him. But she wouldn't
confess it, and it was presently understood between them that Meadows
would duly accept the Dunstables' invitation for August, and that Doris
would stay behind.
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