"Consuello has spoken of you, often," said Betty, advancing with a friendly smile and an outstretched hand. Mentally John thanked her for the words. He knew instinctively that he would like her and that she would be a friend to him.
"Miss Carrillo has been more than kind to me," he said. "I often wonder why she is," he added, returning Betty's smile.
"She likes you," said Betty, with a frankness that startled him a little. He glanced toward Consuello and saw that she was regarding Betty with an amused look.
Betty moved toward a door at the side of the room.
"Will you care if I leave you?" she said. "Please do not think it rudeness. I have been doing a little studying which I must finish tonight and——"
"I'm intruding, I know," interrupted John.
"You're not," she remonstrated with the candidness that John found later was so engaging. Her smile overcame his temporary embarrassment. "I'll see you again, I'm sure," she added, nodding slightly before she stepped into the other room, closing the door behind her.
"What do you think of our little home?" Consuello asked as he turned toward her. She was seated in the chair Betty had left.
"It's like you," he said, feeling free to take the chair near her. "It is so genuinely—beautiful." This time he felt no hesitancy in saying it.
"And what of it do you like best of all?" she asked quickly.