'Ah! Well, after all, you understood her better than I do. They say that women have so much penetration; but I think some men have. You asked me one day if I thought Stella had heard anything.'
'Well?'
'She has.'
'Ah, I suppose Cuth, the parson, has fossicked?'
'I don't think so. I believe it is a slight rumour, but enough to disquiet her—to make her uncertain.'
'I shall write and make a clean breast of it; tell her all.'
'Not for your life. At least, not if you don't mean to lose her.'
'Lose her? I haven't got her, and not likely to now!'
'Ah, there you are mistaken. Stella loves you, Ted,' and Laurette, without a quiver of her eyelid, gazed into the young man's face. He flushed deeply, and walked about the room with signs of evident emotion.
'If I could believe that——' he said, and stopped.