‘Silly girl. I must get you one as like it as I can. But now I am afraid I must return to the house, or some of the fellows may come out to look after me.’
‘Ah!’ said Nell, with a shudder. ‘You have that horrid Mr Portland there. Vernie, you will not tell him you have met me, will you?’
‘Certainly not. It is the last thing I should do. But I cannot understand why all you women should seem to take a dislike to dear old Jack. He is the best fellow I know.’
‘Vernie, he was never your friend,’ said Nell earnestly. ‘You wouldn’t believe it in the old days. Try to believe it now.’
‘No, Nell I cannot, not till I have some better proofs than another’s word. Lady Ilfracombe is always dinning the same thing into my ears, but without effect. Jack has been always true to me so far as I know, and I speak of a man as I find him.’
‘Vernie,’ said Nell, after a pause, ‘is she fond of you?’
He knew she alluded to his wife, and answered,—
‘I think so. I hope so. If people have to pass their lives together, it is best they should be good friends, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ replied the girl, as she slowly moved away.
He was just going to call out ‘good-night’ to her, when she came back rapidly.