“Oh!” said the girl, a little blankly he thought.
“Angel is always experimenting with new noises,” said Jimmy, “and some fellow has introduced him to a motor-siren which is claimed to possess an almost human voice.”
The bell tinkled, and a few seconds after Angel was ushered into the room.
“I have only come for a few minutes,” he said cheerfully. “I wanted to see Jimmy before he sailed, and as I have been called out of town unexpectedly——”
“Before he sails?” she repeated slowly. “Are you going away?”
“Oh, yes, he’s going away,” said Angel, avoiding Jimmy’s scowling eyes. “I thought he would have told you.”
“I——” began Jimmy.
“He’s going into the French Congo to shoot elephants,” Angel rattled on; “though what the poor elephants have done to him I have yet to discover.”
“But this is sudden?”
She was busy with the tea-things, and had her back toward them, so Jimmy did not see her hand tremble.