"Why did she run away?" Brent smiled easily and confidently:
"I'd surprised one of her secrets and she flew into a temper. Did you see her strike me?" He waited anxiously for her reply.
"Secrets?" was all Ethel said.
"Yes. See." He walked across to the corner and turned back the carpet and kneeling down searched for the book, found it and held it up triumphantly:
"Here!" He stood up, and opened the book and read the title-page:
"'Love Stories o f the World.' 'To Peg from Jerry.' Oho!" cried Mr. Brent. "Jerry! Eh? No wonder she didn't want me to see it."
He put the book back into its hiding-place and advanced to Ethel:
"Jerry! So that's how the land lies. Romantic little child!"
Ethel looked steadily at him as he came toward her. Something in her look stopped him within a few feet of her.
"Why don't you go after her?" and she nodded in the direction. Peg had gone.