"Before we go down, Dawn, I must say one word. Don't let them know anything about your not knowing. They think that you understood it all and were willing. I can't see how it happened. Mrs. Van Rensselaer went upstairs last night to tell you all about Harrington, and to take my offer to you, and when she came down she said you wanted to think it over."
The deep color came in Dawn's cheeks, and the flash into her eyes.
"She did not speak to me last night after you came," she said.
"But in the morning, after I saw you in the garden—did she tell you nothing then?"
"She only talked to me about the wedding, and told me I must not look up during the ceremony, that it was not nice. That seemed to be the only thing she cared about."
"Didn't she tell you at all about Harrington?"
"Not a word, except that I ought to go down and talk with him before the ceremony? Was he asking for me?"
The dark eyes took on their frightened look.
Charles frowned heavily behind the big damask towel with which he was drying his face.
"Never mind, dear. Harrington has behaved outrageously, but we will not talk about it now. I'm ashamed to call him my brother."