"All right, old man. No harm's done. I own I was anxious when you didn't show up, but no harm's done."
"Are you ready to go home now, Mr. Forbes? It's nearly four o'clock."
"Yes, we'd better go." Forbes took the boy's arm. "By the way, Howard, did you see a girl talking with me a few minutes ago?"
"Ye—es, I saw her." Howard's manner betrayed reluctance.
"What is her name?"
An incomprehensible silence followed. Forbes repeated the question with more than his customary peremptoriness.
"I—I don't think I can tell you, Mr. Forbes."
"Do you mean you don't know?"
Howard was a truthful boy. "Yes, I know it," he replied hesitatingly. "But she"—a sudden inspiration came to his aid—"Miss Kent don't want me to talk about her."