“I have never said so.”
“Possibly not; but you have thought so, doubtless. Our acquaintance has been made in a casual accidental manner; but it sometimes happens, you know, that acquaintances of this sort ripen into a lasting friendship. I hope it may prove so in this case. At present we know but little of each other.”
“Yes, at present.”
“But there is no reason this should always be so. You are in business?”
“Yes, foreman to a large engineering firm.”
“And are single, I presume?”
“For the present, but——”
He hesitated.
“Enough, I do not seek to pry into your secrets. You are very good and kind—of that I am perfectly well assured; and that is quite enough for the present.”
Gatliffe thought her manner was very charming and ingenuous, but he was at a loss to know whether she was mistress of the establishment or not, and he was too diffident to make any inquiry.