Miss Clifford closed her eyes and clenched her hands.
“He said—he said there was some understanding between you and Mr. Collingwood, but that you didn’t wish it to be known yet.”
Jeannie’s smile faded, and a look of intense surprise took its place.
“Colonel Raymond said that?” she asked. “Do you mean he meant we were engaged?”
Miss Clifford shut her mouth very tight, but moved her head as if she was swallowing.
“That we were engaged?” repeated Jeannie, wishing to be quite certain.
Miss Clifford’s lips formed the word “yes,” but no sound issued.
Jeannie sat down on a stone seat at the top of the stairs.
“Cousin Raymond is a very imaginative man,” she said. “Miss Clifford, I have never consciously set eyes on Mr. Collingwood. Oh, yes, I have. I remember now a young man coming round the corner of the mill when Toby was shaking himself. I think that must be he. Now!”
“It is terrible, terrible!” moaned Miss Clifford. “I have never been so ashamed.”