“I don’t know much about her. But—I’m interested in her. I—I like her.”
“But what sort of people are they?”
“Oh, fairly decent! Respectable, quiet sort of people, as far as I can see. She’s an orphan—lives with her uncle and cousin. She’s studying art.”
All this sounded reassuring to his aunt. The first shock was over, and she began to feel pity for his trouble. He was so agitated, walking up and down the room, with his sulky, boyish scowl.
“Good Lord! What a situation!” he cried. “She asks me not to come and not to write—and they have no telephone. And she asks me to meet her, so that she can explain, and I’m not able to go. And she may be in trouble of some sort. I think it’s very likely.”
“Shall Ah go there for you this afternoon, and explain?”
“No!” said Nick. But he stopped short, and braced himself for an argument. “But I’ll tell you what you can do, Aunt Emmy!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
I
Rosaleen came home from Miss Waters’ that afternoon terribly dispirited. He hadn’t come!