“And which is the favored admirer?”
“Onslow, I fear. I’m not a lady’s man, you see. Indeed, I never wished to be till now. Give me a few lessons, cousin. Teach me a little small-talk.”
“I must know something of the lady first.”
“To begin at the beginning,” said Kenrick, “there can be no dispute as to her beauty. But there is a something in her manner that puzzles me. Is it lack of sincerity? Not that. Is it preoccupation of thought? Sometimes it seems that. And then some apt, flashing remark indicates that she has her wits on the alert. You must see her and help me read her. You visit Miss Laura?”
“Yes. I’ll do your bidding, Charles. How often have you seen this enchantress?”
“Too often for my peace of mind: three times.”
“Is she a coquette?”
“If one, she has the art to conceal art. There seems to be something on her mind more absorbing than the desire to fascinate. She’s an unconscious beauty.”
“Say a deep one. Shall we meet at Miss Tremaine’s to-night?”
“Yes; the moth knows he’ll get singed, but flutter he must.”