“Would you mind staying where you are?” said she. “You can make yourself audible from across the room.”
“What are you afraid of?” he asked, his smile brightening with innocent wonder.
“Afraid? You do yourself too much honour. One does not like to find oneself in close proximity with objects that disgust one,” she explained.
He laughed; but instead of moving further towards her, he dropped into a chair. “You were always brutally outspoken,” he murmured.
“Yes; and with advancing years I’ve become even more so,” said Johannah, who continued to stand.
“You’re quite sure, though, that you’re not afraid of me?” he questioned.
“Oh, for that, as sure as sure can be. If you’ve based any sort of calculations upon the theory that I would be afraid of you, you’ll have to throw them over.”
He flushed a little, as if with anger; but in a moment he said calmly, “You’ve come into a perfect pot of money since I last had the pleasure of meeting you.”
“Yes, into something like eight thousand a year, if the figures interest you.”
“I never had any head for figures,” he answered, smiling. “But eight thousand sounds stupendous. And a lovely place, into the bargain. The park, or so much of it as one sees from the avenue, could not be better. And I permitted myself to admire the façade of the house and the view of the sea.”