He turned at once to his companion.
"Did you mind my coming ?" he asked.
"Mind it ?" she repeated, with almost insolent nonchalance.

"Why should it affect me in any way?
My father's friends come and go.

I have no interest in any of them." "But," he protested, "I want you to be interested in me." She moved a little uneasily in her place.

Her tone, nevertheless, remained icy.
"Could you possibly manage to avoid personalities in your conversation, Mr.Ledsam ?" she begged.
"I have tried already to tell you how I feel about such things." She was certainly difficult.

Francis realised that with a little sigh.
"Were you surprised to see me with your father ?" he asked, a little inanely.
"I cannot conceive what you two have found in common," she admitted.
"Perhaps our interest in you," he replied.