"Elaine," he said at length, dropping the recent return to "Miss Dodge," for the moment, "Elaine, is there any truth in this morning's newspaper report of—of you?"
She had dropped her eyes. But he persisted, taking a newspaper clipping from his pocket and handing it to her.
Her hand trembled as she glanced over the item:
SOCIETY NOTES
Dame Rumor is connecting the name of Miss Elaine Dodge, the heiress, with that of Perry Bennett, the famous young lawyer. The announcement of an engagement between them at any time would not surprise—
Elaine read no further. She handed back the clipping to Kennedy. As her eyes met his, she noticed his expression of deep concern, and hesitated with the reply she had evidently been just about to make.
Still, as she lowered her head, it seemed to give silent confirmation to the truth of the newspaper report.
Kennedy said nothing. But his eyes continued to study her face, even when it was averted.
He suppressed his feelings with a great effort, then, without a word, bowed and left the room.
"Walter," he exclaimed as he rejoined us in the drawing room, where I was chatting with Aunt Josephine, "we must be off again. The trail follows still further."