He tightened his grasp upon her arm. He had an idea that he was being very diplomatic indeed. And Lady Mary had begged him to find out whatever was the matter with poor dear Lois!
“Well,” he said, “I am glad to hear it. To tell you the truth, I have been very jealous lately.”
“You jealous!” she exclaimed, mockingly.
“Fact, I assure you,” he answered.
“Captain Maurice Vandermere jealous!” she repeated, looking up at him with dancing eyes—“absolutely the most popular bachelor in London! And jealous of me, too!”
“Is that so very wonderful, Lois?” he asked. “We have been pretty good friends, you know.”
She felt his hand upon her arm, and she looked away.
“Yes,” she said, “we have been friends, only we haven’t seen much of one another the last month or so, have we?”
“It hasn’t been my fault,” he declared. “I really couldn’t get leave before, although I tried hard. I shouldn’t have been here now, to tell you the truth, Lois,” he went on, “but Lady Mary’s been frightening me a bit.”
“About me?” Lois asked.