"Yet it is that loneliness we are always trying by our own efforts to alleviate."
"There is only one person in the world who can alleviate it for me."
"And you have not found her yet," interrupted Val promptly, and before he could say what she read in his eyes, continued swiftly: "I want you to tell me all about Haidee. You saw her recently, didn't you? How is she looking?"
"Very pretty," said Rupert gloomily. "She is a great beauty, that Haidee, and looks no longer like a brown pony."
"Brown pony?"
"Ah, I should not have said that! It was one of poor Sacha's blagues that she always looked like a wild pony with her brown mane flying ... but she is very different now and quite cured of Sacha, with her hair put up and long frocks and the self-possessed manner of twenty."
"Has she really got her hair up?"
"Yes, indeed. I saw her with the guardian. He is a fine fellow, is n't he? She is much in love with him. I think they will marry."
"Marry!" Val started as if a missile had struck her. A moment later she controlled herself and laughed--an odd, nervous laugh. "Why, Rupert, how silly you are! She is practically Dr. Westenra's child. He has brought her up from a baby."
"That makes nothing. She is not a baby any more, and she does n't look at him like a father. I prophesy to you that Haidee marries him."