"Is it?" I said. "I hoped it wasn't. I did it for that purpose, you see, because I am crazily, madly in love with Cheneston, and he is crazily, madly in love with Grace Gilpin."
"He used to be before he met you," mother put in. "I did not know——" she paused and looked at me. "I think you'd better explain right from the beginning," she said decisively.
"Do you?" I countered quickly. "I am afraid it will be rather a shock—you see, I'd never met Cheneston until that night father came home and told you I was engaged to him. He has never for one minute intended to marry me."
"But you are staying with his mother as his future wife."
"We could neither of us help that. It was Fate."
"Look Here, Pam, cease to talk like a penny novelette! Explain things."
"Very well," I acquiesced. I sat down and explained things from the very beginning, fully.
"And so you're engaged to neither of them?" mother said when I had finished.
I felt as if my very soul had been dragged out for public inspection. I was busy packing it back again.
"No," I said. "Now please tell me why you came?"