"Hullo! Cap.," she said; her voice was light and high and sweet, almost as if she were laughing at something.
"I've brought your book back, Grace," he said; and then he took my hand. "Oh, Pam dear," he said—then to the handsome lady at the bridge table, "May I introduce my little fiancée—Miss Burbridge."
I knew then; I just knew by the look in those very blue eyes. I quite understood why Captain Cromer was bitter, why he wanted a fiancée.
He wanted to hit back.
A sort of buzz of talk and teasing broke out all round me, and through it all I detected a vein of surprise.
Grace Gilpin came down the veranda to shake hands. She walked wonderfully—just like an actress on the stage.
"Why, you poor souls!" she said, lightly and gaily, "so it's raining"—and she looked at my old mack; then everybody looked at it.
I felt suddenly as if I wanted to cry.
"I made her put it on," I heard Captain Cromer say. "She is such a foolish little person. She doesn't take half enough care of herself"—and I knew that I could learn to love that man, that I was doing a crazy thing, and I was going to go on with it.
III