Her eyes looked startled, as if trying not to shed tears.
He was very sorry for her, but tried to hide it by a cool and impatient
manner.
'Well, shall we say in about a fortnight?'
'Certainly.' She looked down.
'I shall miss you awfully,' he said, speaking more quickly than usual to
get it over.
She gave a very small smile.
'Er--and then may I ask what you're thinking of doing next?'
'That was just what I was thinking about,' she answered rather naively.
'There are so few things I can do.'
Then fearing this sentence sounded like begging to remain, she hastily
added:
'And of course if I don't go home I might be a companion or look after
children.'
'I wonder if Mrs Ottley--' began Aylmer. 'She has a dear little girl,
and I've heard her say she would soon want someone.'
'Dilly?' said Dulcie, with a slight smile.
'Yes, Dilly.'
There was a moment of intense awkwardness between them.
Then Dulcie said:
'I'm afraid that wouldn't quite do. I'm not clever enough.'
'Oh, rot. You know enough for a child like that. I shall speak to Mrs
Ottley about it.'
'It's very, very kind of you, but I would rather not. I think I shall
try to be a companion.
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