She noticed, with a little smile of satisfaction, that he was not slow this time in taking her hand, or clumsy in raising it to his lips.
"From what you said, Mademoiselle Fernande," he said in his abrupt way, "I knew that you would come one morning. Was I like to stay away?"
"From what I said?" she retorted with perfect surprise. "Why! What did I say, mon cousin?"
His direct and searching look brought a hot flush to her cheeks. Yet she did not know why she should blush, and was greatly angered with herself for letting him see that she was, of a truth, covered with confusion.
"Ma tante gave me leave to visit the foundries of La Frontenay," she said, with a quaint assumption of dignity, "so I came this morning, thinking, mayhap, that you would remember your promise to conduct me round the workshops ... and that perchance I might meet you here."
"I came here every morning for the past fortnight," he rejoined simply. "I hoped that you would come."
"I had to wait," she said unblushingly, "till ma tante gave me leave."
"I am sorry," he said curtly.
"Sorry? Why?"
"I loved the idea of meeting you here ... in secret ... unknown to any one...."