"He has news for me. I am taking him to my parlour."
"This way, Mr. Winter," she cried out, as she re-appeared and ran up the stairs. "Do hurry, I am so anxious. There, come this way and sit down. Now we are quite private. Go on."
Her haste had left Hal breathless, and he was rather taken aback, as he had scarcely had time to formulate his plan of action.
"Before I commence, I wish to ask your permission to—"
"It is granted," she said, hurriedly.
"Your permission to speak in an open and candid way, and that you will hear me out to the end."
"Most decidedly, but why this precaution? You said Wyck was a friend of yours."
"Pardon me, Miss Goodchild, I never said he was a friend of mine. He is anything but that."
"But you will bear in mind, sir, he is a friend of mine, and if you have anything to his disparagement to say I would rather not hear it for I love him. There now it is out."
"I am obliged for your candour, but as what I have to say is not to his credit, I had better leave."