He knew he must sound horribly casual and indifferent; he tried in vain
to infuse some enthusiasm into his voice, but failed.

Christine seemed to notice nothing amiss; she assented eagerly when he
suggested they should go and look at the shops.

"You--er you must have a ring, you know," he said.

His heart smote him when he saw the way her lips trembled. He took her
hand remorsefully.

"I mean to make you very happy," he said. He dropped her hand again
and moved away.

In his mind he kept comparing this with the first days of his
engagement to Cynthia. He had not been tongue-tied and foolish then;
he had not needed to be reminded that it was usual to kiss a girl when
you were engaged to her; he--oh, confound it!

Christine had gone for her hat and coat.

"Mother is not at all well," she said anxiously when she came back.
"Do you know, Jimmy, I have thought sometimes lately that she really
isn't so well and strong as she tries to make me believe."

Jimmy was not impressed; he said that he thought Mrs. Wyatt looked A1;
not a day older than when she had mothered him down at Upton House all
those years ago. Christine was pleased; she adored her mother; she was
quite happy as they left the hotel together.