But he was staring down intently into her face, as if he would read the very soul behind it.
“She has urged me to take more care of you, that’s all,” said he in a strange, wistful tone.
“I knew it was to her interference that I owed this disgraceful piece of impertinence,” she cried shrilly.
“Impertinence! Do you accuse me of that, in suggesting that I wish to travel with you?”
“N—n—o, of course not,” whispered Lady Sarah. “I mean it is impertinent of her to tell you wicked lies about me. It’s malicious, infamous! What has she said?”
Suddenly she stood very erect, looking up with keen inquiry into his face.
He took up the challenge at last.
“She has said nothing. But I see for myself that—you pass too much of your time with Jack!”
He was ashamed of himself as he uttered the words; it was horrible to have to hint at any fault in her. But he was driven into a corner, and had not enough finesse to avoid blurting out the truth.
She burst into a broken, mirthless, angry laugh.