damned awkward," he said curtly.  "Do you realise that?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Then why explain? It suits me jolly well if you don't."

"Then why explain? It suits me jolly well if you don't."

"I must."

"I must."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Oh—because I must."

"Oh—because I must."

"A fool reason."

"A fool reason."

"We can't pretend to be engaged."

"We can't pretend to be engaged."

"Why not? I think it would be rather a piquant relationship. It appeals to my debased sense of humour. It would at least have this Stirling advantage over the average engagement. We needn't be a couple of confounded hypocrites the whole time with each other. We have no mutual regard—we could at least reserve our self-respect by being honest; or perhaps the prospect of explaining to the inflammable Major, his Colonel, and the Colonel's lady, the circumstances that necessitated the loving embrace in which they found us to-night appeals to your sense of humour?"

"Why not? I think it would be rather a piquant relationship. It appeals to my 

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