"I am afraid of her; I mistrust her; she frightens me. Call it prejudice if you like, but there is something wrong about that woman. Did she find out anything about us last night, Gordon?"
"I had to tell her, of course," Gordon replied. "She accused me of flirting with you, and I had to speak for your sake."
"And what happened after that?"
"Upon my word I forget. Oh, yes. She sent me at once for an ice, saying that she would think of something pretty by the time I returned. She must have forgotten all about it, for when I got back she had vanished."
It was Hetty's turn to hold her peace now. Leona Lalage had not felt equal to facing Gordon at that moment. Even her iron will and resolution were not quite equal to the strain.
"If I was only out of the house," she said. "If I was only out of that house."
Gordon bent and kissed the quivering lips. His little secret was on the tip of his tongue, but he repressed it.
"It will not be for long, dearest," he whispered. "Courage, darling."
If he had only told her; if he had only spoken then!