“Because—I don’t know how I came to be so foolish, but—well, I saw him look at you——”
“At me?”
“Aye, and you at him—come, you as good as promised not to be cross—look and speak as if—as if—that is to say—well, in truth, I can hardly say what caused me to jump to my odd conclusion, but I did make the silly spring, and I find myself landed on exceedingly unpleasant ground.”
Lois had known Blanche only two days, although she felt a strong presentiment that the friendship just cemented would endure for a lifetime. Blanche was the first friend she had ever possessed, and she was sure she might be trusted, yet prudence caused her to hesitate before entrusting Miss Dormer with the secret of her strange relationship with Paul Desfrayne.
Blanche was fairly puzzled, and her feminine curiosity aroused. Quite confident that Lois had spoken truly in saying that Captain Desfrayne was almost a stranger to her, she yet could not help believing that there was some good reason for her thinking that some more than ordinary feeling caused a mutual interest or dislike.
Lois placed her arm caressingly round Blanche’s waist, and laid her cheek on her shoulder.
“Blanche,” she said, “I am going to tell you something about myself and Captain Desfrayne, which will, I have no doubt, surprise you.”
Miss Dormer shrank a little, as if she had been guilty of trying to surprise a confidence she was not entitled to.
“I hope,” she said, “you do not think me inquisitive. I am sorry I allowed myself to make any remarks.”
Lois smiled.