Kindelon's light-blue eyes fired a little under their black lashes. "You say that in a way I do not understand," he answered.
"You and Courtlandt are of a different world."
"I am not a combination of a fop and a parson, if you mean that."
Pauline felt herself grow pale with anger as she shot a look up into her companion's face.
"You would not dare say that to my cousin himself," she exclaimed defiantly, "though you dare say it to me!"
Kindelon had grown quite pale. His voice trembled as he replied. "I dare do anything that needs the courage of a man," he said. "I thought you knew me well enough to be sure of this."
"Our acquaintance is a recent one," responded Pauline. She felt nearly certain that she had shot a wounding shaft in those few words, but she chose to keep her eyes averted and not see whether wrath or pain had followed its delivery.
A long silence followed. They had nearly reached her carriage when Kindelon spoke.
"You are in love with your cousin," he said.
She threw back her head, laughing ironically. "What a seer you are!" she exclaimed. "How did you guess that?"