"Georgie"
is the finest company in the world, and the times we have together are simply ripping. To think I might have had her with me always, if I hadn't been in such a confounded hurry! Martin, why the blue blazes did you let me go and get engaged?"
"Upon my word!" I said, aghast. "Considering that it has been a kind of hobby with you ever since you left school—"
"Well, Heaven knows what the end of it will be," he interrupted dismally. "We were spinning down the Linnyshaw Hill yesterday at the sort of pace to put me in jail for six months if I'd been caught, and we were both gloriously happy. All at once something tempted me to let the thing go to smash at the bottom, and finish the whole business with a fine stage effect. There'd have been some satisfaction in chucking this beastly planet with my arm around her."
"Yes," said I calmly, "in little bits. And so nice for your mothers afterwards. Don't be a confounded fool, Georgie!
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