He sat back in his chair with a laugh.
“You’re very clever,” he told her admiringly. “I always seem to be out-flanked in the end. Very well then, Brother Dudley has got engaged foolishly, and Hal has been quietly fretting, instead of being a sensible little woman, and telling her friend all about it straight away. What are you going to do now?”
“I can’t do anything. He won’t get married for a few months anyway.”
“And when he does?”
“Then I shall stay where I am, and make the best of it, I suppose... but... but”—her voice broke a little—“I’m a positive fool about Dudley. I can’t bear to lose him.”
“Poor little woman. Well, I’ll be good to you if you’ll let me. I dare say I can brighten things up a little. Every cloud has a silver lining, you know.”
“I don’t know where Dudley’s will be,” with a wintry smile. “It wouldn’t be so hard if I thought there was any chance of his being happy. But there isn’t. He doesn’t in the least know her real character.”
They sat on until seven o’clock, and then Hal rose to go, feeling happier than she had done ever since they last met.
“Well, am I forgiven?” he asked, as she buttoned her gloves.
“You are, for the present,” with an arch glance; “but I reserve the right to retract at a moment’s notice.”