"Yes," replied Helen, foreseeing fresh torture.
"And how did he take it?"
"In the mood that I gave it—good-naturedly, as a joke."
"Oh, a joke! Yes, a joke!" Henriette played on the word harshly. "He did not renew the proposal to you? Strange!" she laughed. "And did you tell him that you had told me?"
The question was so piercingly put that Helen recoiled slightly.
"Yes," she said.
"Another joke, that! Did you think of the position it put me in?"
"But he asked me. I could not lie to him!"
"No, never! You could not lie!" Henriette rejoined. "No, you did not think what kind of a position it put me in—or him. I know that he has meant to propose to me. He knows that I know. Delightful situation! Acting for me, did you say that I would accept or refuse?"
"I said nothing. He said nothing."