She looked up for a moment at him earnestly; then, dropping her eyes, spoke gravely and rather coldly.
“I do not go on mountain parties, Mr. Vane.”
“At Cinerea Lake?”
“At Cinerea Lake or elsewhere.”
“Really, I had flattered myself that I had been enjoying your own diversions.”
Miss Thomas made no answer whatever to this. Then, after some minutes—“Why did you not answer my letter?”
“I did not know it required an answer.”
“I value your friendship very highly. It made me very unhappy.”
“Apparently you were successful in concealing your unhappiness from your friend Miss Gibbs. I did not know it was my friendship you cared for.”
“I am in the habit of concealing most things from Miss Gibbs. Have I ever given you reason to suppose I cared for anything else than your friendship?”