“How did she know—know about me?” asked Hugh, frowning.
“The same way I did: by the letter she held in your room addressed to your full name. She held it for a second under both our eyes. She thought she had a weapon; but the name did not tell her what it told me. She didn’t know until to-night that you belonged to me.”
“I wish she would leave Farrandale,” said Hugh restlessly.
“Most women would, under the circumstances. She belongs to a genus I don’t know much about. It isn’t safe for me to predict.”
“I’m glad you’re so wonderful,” returned Hugh, “so big that you will be good to her.”
“I will be if you won’t be,” said Miss Frink, with her little twitching smile. “You might as safely try to show affection to a rattlesnake as to a woman without principle. You can’t know how or when she’ll strike.”
Hugh walked up and down the room. “Ally’s such a good fellow. I don’t like—”
“Yes, I know you don’t; and you may have to get your wisdom by experience; but she’s a hard teacher, Experience, Hugh, and she has given you one big lesson to-night.”
“I’m blessed if I know how I deserved it. I deserve to be kicked out of the house by you, but ‘not guilty’ when it comes to Ally.”
Miss Frink’s eyes followed him adoringly. It was of no use to try to make him understand.