"How do you know?" she cried. "Who has told you?"
"You have—now. Your eyes told me twenty minutes ago."
"But it isn't true! Nobody knows anything about it! It isn't a real engagement yet!"
"I have no doubt it will be real enough for me," answered Swift very bitterly; and he moved away from her, though her little hands were stretched out to keep him.
"Don't leave me!" she cried piteously. "I want to tell you. I will tell you now, if you will only let me."
He faced about, with one foot on the veranda and the other in the sand.
"Tell me," he said, "if it is that old affair come right; that is all I care to know."
"It is; but it hasn't come right yet—perhaps it never will. If only you would let me tell you everything!"
"Thank you; I dare say I can imagine how matters stand. I think I told you it would all come right. I am very glad it has."
"Jack!"