"It wouldn't have been at one time, but—— You mustn't say anything to Rosa. You mustn't, really. You won't, Jack, will you?" and she laid her hand on my arm appealingly.
"I must, Nessa."
"No, no. I won't be the cause——"
And then, just as she was clinging to my arm and urging me, she broke away with a sudden cry of consternation.
I turned to find Rosa standing in the doorway, staring at us wide-eyed in amazement.
CHAPTER VI
ROSA IS TOLD
Whether I should have yielded to Nessa and allowed myself to be persuaded not to tell Rosa the truth, I can't say—she always had great influence with me—but after we had been surprised in this fashion it was no longer possible to hesitate. Nessa would have been compromised and I suspected.
I acted promptly, therefore. I crossed the room, and shut the door carefully, both girls watching me with expectant curiosity.