"Yes, I saw," said Arthur gloomily.
"I suppose they're bound to say that. The public loves romance."
"I think it's very natural they should say it. Why did she follow you? Why did she risk her life? Why did she ask after you the first moment she was conscious?"
"No one but me was being murdered," suggested Dale, with a rather uneasy smile.
"We left her here. Why did she go out at all? But it's too plain. I saw it before I had been here a day."
"Saw what, man?" asked Dale, passing by Arthur's questionable assertion.
"Why, that Nellie—you know. I don't know what you feel, but I know what she feels. It's rough on me having me down——"
"I never thought of such a thing," said Dale quickly.
"Oh, I suppose not; though how you didn't—— I say, now, before you came to Denborough, didn't you?"
"I—I don't think so. We were great friends."