“Ah! You are not very long back from England?”
“About a year. But—how on earth did you know that! Did Charlie tell you?”
“Not a word. I deduced it. There was a discontented ring about your tone, and colonial girls always take on discontent after a visit to England, whereas men are glad to get back.”
“Now, what can you possibly know about colonial girls, Mr Musgrave, you, who are only just out from England yourself?”
He smiles slightly, and does not attempt to answer this question.
“How old are you?” he says at length.
Mona favours him with an astonished stare, and colours a little. She does not know whether to laugh or to be angry, to answer or to snub him; and in fact, such a question from a perfect stranger would amply justify the latter course. But she only says—
“Guess.”
“Twenty-four.”
“Oh, Charlie told you, or somebody did.”