"I do not know that. She says so. She says they are to be married soon."
"Does she know about—about me?"
"Yes, but she says—" Mary Willee stopped short in embarrassment.
"Says what! Tell me! Tell me at once!" commanded Sabine, fiercely. "What does she say!"
"She says Thomas thought you had a lot of money. He was deceived, he said."
Sabine broke out in a passion of indignation. "I never deceived him: never, never! I never once said anything about money. He never asked me anything. It's a lie. I tell you, it's a lie!"
Mary quailed visibly, unable to disguise a tell-tale look of guilt.
"What is the matter with you, Mary Willee!" cried Sabine. "You are hiding something. You know something you have not told me!"
Mary replied, in a very frightened voice: "Once he asked me if you had any money. I did not think he was really in earnest, so I told him you had saved a thousand dollars. Oh, I didn't mean any harm. I only said it to be agreeable. And later I was afraid to tell the truth, for it was only two or three days later he asked you to marry him, and you were so happy."