"You're never far from them. Let me make a stretching-frame of my fingers and square this end."
"Do. Not quite so tight. And now—those new States come in so fast!—how many now?"
"Forty-six."
"M-m—four eights and two sevens?"
"Four eights and two sevens."
She sewed rapidly, and without looking up, until she had completed the first row. "There—there's one of the eights. Now you can breathe again, Andie."
Balfe sat back. "What did you make of Mr. Necker, Marie?"
She, too, sat back. "I wonder what I did make of him. He was very curious about you."
"That's interesting."
"Yes. He asked questions and I couldn't quite fib to him, and yet I couldn't see why he should expect me to tell him all about you. And so"—she paused and the little half-smile was hovering around again.