He and Mrs.
Ermsted had had many a flirtation in the days that were past and it was well known that Captain Ermsted heartily detested him in consequence.
Some even hinted that matters had at one time approached very near to a climax, but Ralph Dacre knew how to handle difficult situations, and with considerable tact had managed to avoid it.

Little Mrs.Ermsted, though still willing to flirt, treated him with just a tinge of disdain, now-a-days; no one knew wherefore.

Perhaps it was more for Stella's edification than her own that she condescended to dance with him on that sweltering evening of Indian spring.
But Stella was evidently too engrossed with her own affairs to pay much attention to the doings of her _fiance_.

His love-making was not of a nature to be carried on in public.

That would come later when they walked home through the glittering night and parted in the shadowy verandah while Tommy tramped restlessly about within the bungalow.