“They are wise. It is cool out there,” he said; but he did not offer to go and join them.
Ada’s keen eyes watched the two figures, their faces turned to each other as if the owners were deeply engrossed in conversation.
“How interested they look,” she said. “It must be nice for Esmeralda to meet with such an old friend.”
“An old friend?” Trafford repeated.
Lady Ada glanced at him out of the corners of her eyes.
“They are old friends, are they not?” she said. “They met at that place in Australia where she was brought up. What is its name? Three Star. Don’t you remember?”
“Yes, I remember,” he said.
“How handsome Lord Norman has grown!” she said, after a silence. “That boyish way of his is very taking. He has been making quite a number of conquests since he came back; some of the women declare that he is irresistible.”
“He is a good fellow,” said Trafford, absently. He was looking at Esmeralda and thinking of her, not Norman.
“Oh, very,” she assented. “I wonder what they are talking about?—old times, I imagine— Ah!” she broke off suddenly with the exclamation, and Trafford started.