Clare’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction. Now there was a prospect of its ending, she could allow herself to admit how repugnant the life she led had grown. She had hated the gambling, and although this had stopped, the mystery and hidden intrigue that followed it were worse. If her father gave it all up, they need no longer be outcasts, and she could live as an English girl ought to do. Besides, it would be easier to forget Dick Brandon when she went away.
“Would we go back to England?” she asked eagerly.
“I hardly think that would be possible,” Kenwardine replied. “We might, however, fix upon one of the quieter cities near the Atlantic coast of America. I know two or three that are not too big and are rather old-fashioned, with something of the charm of the Colonial days, where I think you might find friends that would suit your fastidious taste.”
Clare tried to look content. Of late, she had longed for the peaceful, well-ordered life of the English country towns, but it seemed there was some reason they could not go home.
“Any place would be better than Santa Brigida,” she said. “But I must leave you to your letters. I am going out to buy some things.”
The sun was hot when she left the patio, but there was a strip of shade on one side of the street and she kept close to the wall, until turning a corner, she entered a blaze of light. The glare from the pavement and white houses was dazzling and she stopped awkwardly, just in time to avoid collision with a man. He stood still and she looked down as she saw that it was Dick and noted the satisfaction in his eyes.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t keeping a very good lookout,” he said.
“You seemed to be in a hurry,” Clare rejoined, half hoping he would go on; but as he did not, she resumed: “However, you generally give one the impression of having something important to do.”
Dick laughed. “That’s wrong just now, because I’m killing time. I’ve an hour to wait before the launch is ready to go to sea.”
“Then you are sailing somewhere along the coast,” said Clare, who moved forward, and Dick taking her permission for granted, turned and walked by her side.