I said, "No; I'll tell him."
Bob stopped with us the night before the match. He hardly ate anything for dinner, and he wanted toast instead of bread. When I met him afterwards, though, he was looking very pleased with things and very friendly.
"It's all right about those bills," he said. "The governor has given me a cheque. He's awfully bucked about my Blue."
"And it was all me, Bob," I cried. "It was every bit me. If it hadn't been for me you wouldn't be playing to-morrow. Aren't you grateful, Bob? You ought to be."
"If you can spare a moment and aren't too busy talking rot," said Bob, "you might tell me what it's all about."
"Why, it was through me you've got your Blue."
"So I understand you to say. Mind explaining? Don't, if it would give you a headache."
"Why, I met the Oxford captain at Aunt Edith's dance, and I said how anxious you were to get your Blue and I begged him to put you in the team. And the very next Saturday you were tried for the first time."
Bob positively reeled, and would have fallen had he not clutched a chair. I didn't know people ever did it out of novels. He looked horrible. His mouth was wide open and his face a sort of pale green. He bleated like a sheep.
"Bob, don't!" I said. "Whatever's the matter?"
"Bob positively reeled, and would have fallen had he not clutched a chair."
He recovered himself and laughed feebly. "All right, Kid," he said, "that's one to you. You certainly drew me then. By gad! I really thought you meant it at first."
My eyes opened wide. "But, Bob," I said, "I did."
His jaw fell again.
"You mean to tell me," he said, slowly, "that you actually asked Oh, my aunt!"
He leaned his forehead on the mantelpiece.
"I shall have to go down," he moaned.
"I can't stay up after this. Good Lord! the story may be all over the 'Varsity! Suppose somebody did get hold of it! I couldn't live it down."
He raised his head. "Look here, Joan," he said; "if a single soul gets to hear of this I'll never speak to you again." And he stalked out of the room.
I sat down and cried.
He would hardly speak a word to me next morning. Father insisted on his having breakfast in bed, so as not to let him get tired; so I did not see him till lunch. After lunch we all drove off to Queen's Club in Aunt Edith's motor. While Bob was upstairs packing his bag, father said to me, "Here's an honour for us, Joan. Bob is bringing the Oxford captain back to dinner to-night."
I gasped. I felt it would take all my womanly tact to see me through the interview. He wouldn't know how offended Bob was at being put in the team, and he might refer to our conversation at the dance.
