"On the contrary," she answered, "I do not wish you to do anything of the sort."
He looked at her in some surprise. Her voice had prepared him for a change of some sort, but he was nevertheless puzzled. There was a slight flush of color in her cheeks, and her eyes were softer than usual.
"Stirling," she said, "come and sit down here by my side."
He obeyed at once. She turned and faced him.
"I am puzzled, Stirling," she said. "I want to ask you a question. You have been lunching with my father?"
"Yes!" Deane answered. "At his club."
"I know that he feels very strongly about this matter," she said. "Tell me, did the suggestion that our engagement should be broken off come from him?"
"Certainly."
"And you?" she said. "Tell me exactly what you felt, what it meant to you? I don't want you to fence with words, please," she went on. "Tell me this honestly. Was it anything of a relief to you?"
"Assuredly not," he answered wonderingly.