“Yes,” she said, “I understand now. It is a strange history. But tell me, have you no relations left?”
“One, I believe, if she still lives—a maiden aunt, my mother’s sister.”
“Is she Jane Beach?” she asked quickly. “Forgive me, but I saw that name in the prayer-book.”
“No,” he said, “she is not Jane Beach.”
Juanna hesitated; then curiosity and perhaps other feelings overcame her, and she asked straight out—
“Who is Jane Beach?”
Leonard looked at Juanna and remembered all that he had suffered at her hands. It was impertinent of her to ask such a question, but since she chose to do so she should have an answer. Doubtless she supposed that he was in love with herself, doubtless her conduct was premeditated and aimed at the repression of his hopes. He would show her that there were other women in the world, and that one of them at any rate had not thought so poorly of him. It was foolish conduct on his part, but then people suffering under unmerited snubs, neglect, and mockery at the hands of a lady they admire are apt to lose their judgment and do foolish things. So he answered:
“Jane Beach is the lady to whom I was engaged.”
“I guessed it,” she replied with a smile and a shiver. “I guessed it when I saw that you always carried the prayer-book about with you.”
“You forget, Miss Rodd, that the prayer-book contains an agreement which might become valuable.”