His heart leaped. “Has Herbert told her I’m married?”
“No, she doesn’t know.”
“He is a fine fellow.”
“But she would be sure to learn it one day—it would leak out.”
“Then she would keep the secret.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know Olive,” she said from between her palms. “She is hard on women. I would have sat to you ages ago, only I was afraid of her sneers. I wouldn’t have her know for worlds. I used to think her sexless.”
“But now that she is to be married—”
“She will be more conventional than ever.”
He tossed back his hair, impatiently. “Then we must dispense with Olive.”
For a long time she did not reply. He thought his harshness towards her friend had set her crying again. He gently forced her hands from her face. It was flushed and pain-stricken.