‘Please!’

‘Are you not my own for ever, Dora?’

‘Oh yes, of course I am!’ cried Dora, ‘but I am so frightened!’

‘Frightened, my own?’

‘Oh yes! I don’t like him,’ said Dora. ‘Why don’t he go?’

‘Who, my life?’

‘Your friend,’ said Dora.

‘It isn’t any business of his. What a stupid he must be!’

‘My love!’ (There never was anything so coaxing as her childish ways.) ‘He is the best creature!’