Nasmyth started a little. It was a thing that he would at one time certainly not have expected, but he realized now that he was driven by a fierce impatience to get back to the work he had undertaken.
“I think that is not astonishing in one respect,” he 267 replied. “I told you why I feel that I must carry the project through. The sooner I am successful, the sooner I can come back to you.”
The girl laughed somewhat bitterly. “If you would only be sensible, you need not go away. Are you quite sure it is not the project that comes first with you?” she questioned.
Nasmyth felt the blood creep into his face, for it suddenly dawned on him that the suggestion she had made was to some extent warranted.
“My dear,” he answered quietly, “you must try to bear with me.”
Violet rose. “Well,” she said, “when do you go away?”
“In the morning.”
There was resentment in the girl’s expression. “Since you have made up your mind to go, I will make no protest,” she declared. Then, with a swift change of manner, she turned and laid her hand upon his arm. “After all, I suppose you must go. Derrick, you won’t stay away very long!”
They went into the drawing-room together, and half an hour had passed when Mrs. Acton beckoned to Nasmyth, and he followed her into an adjoining alcove. She sat down and looked at him reproachfully.
“I am very angry with you,” she asserted; “in fact, I feel distinctly hurt. You have not come up to my expectations.”