'Yes, Theo, you do! Why have you come?'
'May I not be allowed,' he asked lightly, 'a certain desire to see you and ... Brenda?'
'You may,' she replied; 'but that is not the reason of your coming.'
She settled herself more comfortably on the window-seat, laid aside her muff, loosened her jacket, and composed herself to a long wait with a cheery determination eminently characteristic.
'In the spring ...' he began, in a patient voice which seemed to contain the promise of a long story.
'The young man's fancy...' continued Mrs. Wylie.
'Lightly turns,' he said gravely, taking up the thread, 'to thoughts of ... war.'
At the last word he lowered his voice suddenly, and turned upon her as if to see its effect. She merely raised her eyebrows and looked at him speculatively. At last she gave a little nod of the head, signifying comprehension.
'Then you have come to say—good-bye?'
Here her voice failed a little. With care she could have prevented such an occurrence; but perhaps she spoke a trifle recklessly—perhaps she did not care to conceal the feeling which was betrayed by that passing break in her mellow sympathetic tones. When it was too late, she closed her lips with a small snap of determination, and looked up at him smiling defiantly.