"No." Her lips let the word out slowly.
"That's a reticent friend of yours!" The exclamation, and the truth of it, put her on her guard.
"I can't discuss him with you," she said coldly.
"Yet no doubt you have discussed me with him?"
"Never!"
"You haven't told him anything?" The incredulity, the amazement of his face put before her, for the first time, how extraordinary her conduct must seem. What could he think of her? What construction would he put upon it? She blushed, neck to forehead, and her voice was scarcely audible as she answered "No."
But at that small word his whole mood warmed to her. "Why, then," he began eagerly, "if Cressy doesn't know—"
"Oh, but he—" Flora stopped in terror of herself. "I can't talk of him, I must not. Don't ask me!" she implored, "and please, please don't come to my house again!"
He gave his head a puzzled, impatient shake. "Then where am I to see you?"
"In a few days—perhaps to-morrow—I will let you know." She rose. She had her package now. She was getting back her courage. There was no further way of keeping her.