The other girl moved a step or two nearer, and sat down at the other end of the same sofa.
"Well, look here," went on Pamela, "let's understand each other, if you don't mind, then there won't be any bother."
"Is there some bother?" asked the other girl.
Pamela controlled her temper with effort. The assumption of superiority was so aggravating.
"There will be a good deal of bother, if you do unreasonable things," she went on, trying to be indifferent. "If you want to send notes would you kindly leave them at the front door, because----"
"Impossible," interrupted the Countess decidedly, "you see I am not supposed to go outside these grounds. If I were to walk to your house openly I should betray myself. I do not stay in the grounds of course, because I wish to go outside. But I employ my own means."
Pamela looked at her with a frustrated feeling. If only the girl were not so horribly "cock-sure"!
"Well, look here," she began at another point, "will you tell me your name? I find it a bit difficult to talk without knowing it."
A sort of glint flashed in the stranger's eyes. And Pamela's natural perceptions caused her to read the thought behind that glint on the instant.
The girl imagined she was fishing for information!