I
know so little that I do not even know how to answer in your
interests such questions as Mrs. Wenham Gardner asked me. I am
not complaining, but is this state of absolute ignorance
necessary?"
A new thought seemed to come to Beatrice. She looked at her
companion curiously.
"Tell me," she asked, "what did you think of Mrs. Wenham
Gardner?"
Tavernake answered deliberately, and after a moment's reflection.
"I thought her," he said, "one of the most beautiful women I have
ever seen in my life. That is not saying very much, perhaps, but
to me it meant a good deal. She was exceedingly gracious and her
interest in you seemed quite real and even affectionate. I do
not understand why you should wish to hide from such a woman."
"You found her attractive?" Beatrice persisted.
"I found her very attractive indeed," Tavernake admitted, without
hesitation. "She had an air with her. She was quite different
from all the women I have ever met at the boarding-house or
anywhere else. She has a face which reminded me somehow of the
Madonnas you took me to see in the National Gallery the other
day."
Beatrice shivered slightly. For some reason, his remark seemed
to have distressed her.
"I am very, very sorry," she declared, "that Elizabeth ever came
to your office. I want you to promise me, Leonard, that you will
be careful whenever you are with her."
Tavernake laughed.
"Careful!" he repeated. "She isn't likely to be even civil to me
tomorrow when I tell her that I have seen you and I refuse to
give her your address.
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