Balcome shrugged, and flopped the big hat. "Not any, eh?" he said.
"Hm!" By a lift of his eyebrows, and a jerk of the head, he invited
Farvel to take a good look at Wallace.
Farvel seemed suddenly to waken. He shook a pointed finger. "You knew she was alive!" he declared.
"He didn't! He did not!" Again Clare was fiercely on the defense.
"No! On my honor!" vowed Wallace.
Sue made a warning gesture. "Listen, everybody," she cautioned. "Suppose we go back to the Rectory." And to Clare, "You and Mr. Farvel can talk with more privacy there."
A quick hand touched her. "Susan," whispered Mrs. Milo.
She had support in her protest. "I'm not going back to any Rectory,"
Clare asserted.
"Back?" repeated Farvel, astonished. "Back? Then you—you were the soloist?"
"Yes.—Oh, why did I go! Why didn't I ever find out! Milo—it isn't a common name. And I might have known! I'm a fool! A fool! But I needed the engagement. And I'd been there before, and I thought it was all right."
"What has 'Milo' to do with it?" asked Sue.