The whole affair struck him as excessively odd, as a mad escapade on his part.

Wisdom in him deemed it ridiculous to prolong the encounter, but shy folly could not break loose.

Moreover she possessed the charm of her novelty; and there was that in her which challenged the male in him.
"Well," she said, "I suppose we can't stand here for ever!" The crowd had frittered itself away, and an attendant was closing and locking the doors of St.George's Hall.

He coughed.
"It's a pity it's Saturday and all the shops closed.

But anyhow suppose we walk along Oxford Street all the same?
Shall we ?" This from her.
"By all means." "Now there's one thing I should like to say," she murmured with a calm smile as they moved off.