Here was a puzzler, indeed. By what instinct had little Kern known, the instant the door began to open, that this, and no other, was Mr. V.V.'s beautiful lady?...
"How could you be anybody else, ma'am?... You couldn't."
"I believe I have heard Dr. Vivian speak of you. Possibly," she said, with stony bitterness, "you have heard of me in the same way?"
The girl seemed to shrink a little at her tone. "Oh, ma'am--no! To me! No, ma'am! He wouldn't ..."
"But he is a great friend of yours?"
Kern raised a hand to her heart, understanding only too much that was not so. It was a glorious moment for her, and a terrible one.
"No, ma'am," said she, shaking her head a number of times. "I'm only his charity sick."
She added, as if to make the repudiation complete: "Mr. V.V.'s friends are ladies, ma'am."
"Mr. V.V.?"
Confronted by her damning slip, the young person turned scarlet, but she stood her ground with a little gasp.