"Of course I do," he replied. "I am quite sure that she would
not feel as she does unless you had been guilty of something very
terrible indeed."
The woman on the couch winced as though some one had struck her.
A more susceptible man than Tavernake must have felt a little
remorseful at the tears which dimmed for a moment her beautiful
eyes. Tavernake, however, although be felt a moment's
uneasiness, although he felt himself assailed all the time by a
curious new emotion which he utterly failed to understand, was
nevertheless still immune. The things which were to happen to
him had not yet, arrived.
"Of course," he continued, "I was very much disappointed to hear
this, because I had hoped that we might have been able to let
Grantham House to you. We cannot consider the matter at all now
unless you pay for everything in advance."
She uncovered her eyes and looked at him. People so direct of
speech as this had come very seldom into her life. She was
conscious of a thrill of interest. The study of men was a
passion with her. Here was indeed a new type!
"So you think that I am an adventuress," she murmured.
He reflected for a moment.
"I suppose," he admitted, "that it comes to that. I should not
have returned at all if I had not promised. If there is any
message which you wish me to give your sister, I will take it,
but I cannot tell you her address."
She laid her hand suddenly upon his, and raising herself a little
on the couch, leaned towards him.
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