“Yes,” said Arrelsford, again answering for Mrs. Varney, “since you wish to know. From the first I have had my suspicions about this——”
But Edith did not wait for him to finish his sentence. She turned away from him with loathing, and moved rapidly toward the front window.
“Where are you going!” asked Arrelsford.
“For Captain Thorne.”
“Not now,” he said peremptorily.
The colour flamed in the girl’s cheek again.
“Mr. Arrelsford, you have said something to me about Captain Thorne. Are you afraid to say it to him?”
“Miss Varney,” answered Arrelsford hotly, “if you—if you——”
“Edith,” said Mrs. Varney, “Mr. Arrelsford has good reasons for not meeting Captain Thorne now.”
“I should think he had,” returned the girl swiftly; “for a man who made such a charge to his face would not live to make it again.”