‘Ah, well, we must see. Old ornaments or old lace. I wonder if I ought to think of an approaching wedding, too?’
Maud’s eyes looked mischievous, her mouth demure. She shook her head gravely.
‘Ah, Miss Marjory, you want to make me commit myself. You are just as curious as anybody else, I see. You know I am not bound to give my answer till the 24th.’
‘No; and I am not even curious about it. I know already what it will be.’
‘Has Ethel——?’
‘Ethel has told me nothing. You have told me.’
‘What have I told you?’
‘That a girl of your nature and your name would look higher than that. Philip Debenham’s sister will never marry Alfred Belassis.’
Maud laughed again, and came closer to Miss Marjory, laying one hand confidingly in hers, with a pretty, childlike gesture that was half a caress.
‘Miss Marjory, you have guessed quite right. I really couldn’t. I have thought of everything a hundred times over, but I can’t bring my mind to it. Once I thought I could. A little while back I quite fancied it would come to that; but now that I have seen Phil—oh no! I really couldn’t!’