“Oh, don’t ‘but’ in that inane fashion. If you say it isn’t proper I shall scream. Lorraine is nearly old enough to be your mother, and she has far too much sense to be in love with you; and you wouldn’t be so idiotic as to imagine it any use for you to be in love with her. Therefore it’s only a companion she wants to keep her from moping and dwelling on sad thoughts; and you seem to be able to do that—as well as any of us; so why can’t you get another man, or boy if you prefer it, to go for a run into the country with you? Flip would take her by the next train if he were there. He wouldn’t care a farthing for scandalmongers. But I suppose he can do that sort of thing because he’s a man. And, anyhow, I don’t suppose she would go with you, even with a third person. She might think a whole week of you too much of a good thing.”
His face has grown still more thoughtful, and he paid small heed to her taunts.
Lorraine sobbing, Lorraine ailing, Lorraine unhappy, filled his mind. What could have happened to upset her so? True, she had not been looking well for some weeks, and had complained of headaches and weariness; but he felt sure something quie apart had transpired to upset her so thoroughly.
Neither did he think it was Hal’s version of the usual worries. He greatly feared his own people had made some move of which he was in ignorance. He contemplated with deep vexation the probability that he himself was indirectly the cause of her new trouble, and he mentally decided then and there to go to considerable lengths, if she wished it, on her behalf.
Probably if he travelled down to some seaside place and saw her comfortably settled, and later on ran down to fetch her, she would be more easily induced to go. At any rate he would call the very next day and see, if his proposition simplified matters at all.
Hal watched him a little impatiently, and at length remarked:
“You seem to be thinking rather hard. Are you meditating upon Lorraine’s trouble, or my suggestion, that it is unlikely she could endure a whole week of you, unadulterated?”
“Both,” with a humorous glance at her. “I’m thinking it would be interesting to find out the truth in both cases.”
“Well, you won’t do that. Lorraine never tells her troubles. Not even to me. And she’s too tender-hearted to hurt your feelings on the other question.”
“I’m not afraid of that.”