"Forgive me," she said angelically, "and let's change the subject. Come into the library, and I'll order tea."
It was Jack's turn to be surprised. He judged from her voice that she had already risen, so he had about two seconds to make up his mind how to act. He relaxed completely in the big chair, let his head fall back, closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
She came between the curtains. He heard the swish of her silk petticoat.
"Oh!" she said sharply. Surprise, fear, chagrin, all were blended in the sound.
Bobo at her heels said blankly: "I'll be jiggered!"
Jack opened his eyes sleepily, blinked at the sight of them, and sprang up.
"What's the matter!" he said. "Where am I? Oh—I must have fallen asleep. Please excuse me!"
He flattered himself it was very well done. Bobo at least was completely taken in. As to the girl, he could not be sure. It was likely that being an accomplished dissimulator herself, she would on principle suspect him of dissimulation.
But she gave away nothing in her face. "You're excusable," she said with a light laugh. "They told us you hadn't come. If you could have seen how funny you looked! Come on, let's have tea."
Throughout that ceremony Jack labored with his most light-hearted air to remove any suspicions she might have that he had overheard her talk with Bobo. It was not easy to read that young lady's face, but he believed that he saw her gradually relax and be at ease again.