"Which hoose——" began the girl.
"The first you come to!" said the Commander peremptorily. "Quick as you can!"
Then he looked at Eileen, and for a moment said nothing.
"What's the matter?" she asked anxiously. "Has anything gone wrong?"
"Yes," he said with a half laugh, "I have. I even forgot to lick down that envelope. How the deuce I'm to explain an empty, unaddressed, unfastened envelope the Lord only knows!" His manner suddenly changed and he asked abruptly, "Are you in a desperate hurry to get in? I've something to say to you."
He paused and looked at her, but she said not a word in reply, not even to inquire what it was. A little jerkily he proceeded—
"I'm probably making just as great a fool of myself as Belke. But I couldn't let you go without asking—well, whether I am merely making a fool of myself. If you know what I mean and think I am, well, please just tell me you can manage to see yourself safely home—I know it's only about fifty yards—and I'll go and get that wretched envelope back from the girl and tell her another lie."
"Why should I think you are making a fool of yourself?" she asked in a voice that was very quiet, but not quite as even as she meant.
"Let's turn back a little way," he suggested quickly.
She said nothing, but she turned.