"Rum chap, isn't he?" Ashley observed. "So awfully queer and American. No Englishman would ever have taken a jaunt like that—after the old lady—on another chap's behalf. It wouldn't go down, you know."
Olivia, leaning on the mantelpiece, with face partially turned from him, made no reply.
He allowed some minutes to pass before saying: "When I asked him how he liked the Louisiana I wanted to know. I'm thinking of taking her on her next trip home."
She turned slightly, lifting her eyes. There was a wonderful light in them, and yet a light that seemed to shine from afar. "Wouldn't that be rather soon?"
"It would give me time for all I want. Now that I'm here I'd better take a look at New York and Washington, and perhaps get a glimpse of your South. I could do that in three weeks."
She seemed to have some difficulty in getting her mind to follow his words. "I don't think I understand you."
There was a smile on his lips as he said: "Don't you infer anything?"
"If I inferred anything, it would be that you think of going home—alone."
"Well, that's it."
She turned fully round. For a long minute they stood staring at each other. Time and experience seemed both to pass over them before she uttered the one word: "Why?"