This was so unexpected as for a moment to throw Polly off her balance; but she quickly recovered herself. Here was her opportunity! She must not lose it.
“John,” she began, with a hint of hesitation, “I have been wanting to speak to you about Patricia. You know, she isn’t happy.”
He bowed slightly without turning.
“Of course, it is not my business—and, yet, in one sense it is, for Patty is very dear to me. It was hard to see her as she was when I came away.”
He did not help her with any response, and she went on.
“If there has been a—I mean, some little misunderstanding, maybe I could be of use to you in setting things right.”
He turned to her now in such obvious astonishment that her eyes widened.
“Me?” he questioned—“‘be of use’ to me? I don’t know what you mean.”
She gazed at him blankly. Had she made some dreadful blunder? Or was he feigning innocence of the whole affair?
“Why, John,” she said quickly, “you can’t deny that you and Patricia are—or, at least, have been—interested in each other, can you?”