She reddened and appeared distinctly annoyed.
“That isn’t a vastly amusing, nor particularly lucrative form of earning a livelihood,” she returned with sarcasm. “How do you know I was teaching?”
“I have recently been staying with the Carruthers,” he replied. “Mrs Carruthers spoke of you. I told her I had seen you in Johannesburg.”
Blanche looked deliberately away.
“Mrs Carruthers! Was she... She was my very kind friend formerly,” she remarked in an embarrassed, hesitating way. “I should be sorry if she thought less kindly of me now.”
“Why should she?” he asked.
She brought her face round again, and her eyes, steady and inquiring, met his fully.
“I don’t think you are being quite sincere with me,” she said.
Dare was unprepared for this direct attack. He felt at a decided disadvantage. She was much more shrewd than he had expected.
“Now, I wonder why you should think that?” he asked.