“You’re simply obscuring the point,” she insisted. “In this instance, my premises are facts which are not controverted. You admit them to be correct. So, why? Why?——” She held up her hand. “Don’t answer! I’m not asking for information. I don’t want to be told. I’m simply ‘chaffing of you,’ don’t you know!”
“With just a lingering curiosity, however,” he added.
“A casual curiosity, rather,” she amended.
“Which, some time, I shall gratify. You’ve trailed me down—we were on Greenberry Point for a purpose, but nothing has come of it, yet—and it’s likely a failure.” 196
“My dear Mr. Croyden, I don’t wish to know. It was a mistake to refer to it. I should simply have forgot what I heard in Annapolis—I’ll forget now, if you will permit.”
“By no means, Miss Carrington. You can’t forget, if you would—and I would not have you, if you could. Moreover, I inherited it along with Clarendon, and, as you were my guide to the place, it’s no more than right that you should know. I think I shall confide in you—no use to protest, it’s got to come!” he added.
“You are determined?—Very well, then, come over to the couch in the corner, where we can sit close and you can whisper.”
He arose, with alacrity. She put out her hand and led him—and he suffered himself to be led.
“Now!” when they were seated, “you may begin. Once upon a time——” and laughed, softly. “I’ll take this, if you’ve no immediate use for it,” she said, and released her hand from his.
“For the moment,” he said. “I shall want it back, presently, however.”