It was evident that Gay had not taken Freeman's warning as seriously as she might have taken it. Freeman raised his eyebrows with an effect like that of shrugging one's shoulders. He had warned her, and seriously, and that was more than he need have done.
“That so?” he said indifferently, referring to Henrietta. “Henrietta and her Bill give me a pain.”
“Why? Do you know anything about them?” asked Gay eagerly.
“I? No. Why should I?”
“Haven't you suspected anything?” asked Gay.
Freeman turned and looked in her eyes.
“What do you suspect?” he asked as if the whole matter interested him little.
“Well, we may be doing her the most awful injustice,” Gay said, “but Lorna and I have been wondering if there is a Bill. We wonder if Henrietta is n't just pretending there is a Billy Vane—and all.”
Freeman seemed more bored than interested.
“Why should she pretend a thing like that—a crazy thing like that?” he asked indifferently.