“I’d sooner be the present one than all the has-beens,” he insisted.

“Opinions differ,” she remarked.

“If it will advantage any——”

“I didn’t say so,” she interrupted.

“——I can tell you——”

“Many fables, I don’t doubt!” she cut in, again.

“——that we have been rather intimate, for a few years, and I have never before known him to exhibit particular interest in any woman.” 215

“‘Why don’t you speak for yourself, John,’” she quoted, merrily.

“Because, to be frank, I haven’t enough for two,” he answered, gayly.

But beneath the gayety, she thought she detected the faintest note of regret. So! there was some one!