‘I suppose so.—He was here when Marian came, but didn’t stay.’
‘Then you’ll take him the news this evening?’
‘Yes,’ replied Dora. Then, after musing, ‘He seemed annoyed that you were at the Lanes’ again.’
Maud made a movement of indifference.
‘What has been putting you out?’
‘Things were rather stupid. Some people who were to have come didn’t turn up. And—well, it doesn’t matter.’
She rose and glanced at herself in the little oblong mirror over the mantelpiece.
‘Did Jasper ever speak to you of a Miss Rupert?’ asked Dora.
‘Not that I remember.’
‘What do you think? He told me in the calmest way that he didn’t see why Marian should think of him as anything but the most ordinary friend—said he had never given her reason to think anything else.’