"Perhaps he is afraid of losing caste," said Frank, anxious to know the cause of Tom's sullen countenance.
Adèle laughed; "Losing caste!" she said, "the idea is preposterous."
"Miss Rougeant," said Frank, suddenly becoming grave, "do you want to oblige me?"
She looked up. "Of course I do," she replied.
"And will you answer my question?" he continued.
She looked down. "What can he mean?" she said inly. The twilight partly hid the deep blush that suffused her cheek.
He noticed her embarrassment and hastily spoke: "I was going to say this. Some time ago, I heard that you were engaged to a young man named Tom Soher. Would you be kind enough to explain me the riddle. But, you need not do so, if you do not feel inclined to."
Her manner suddenly changed. She had imagined that he had something of far greater importance to ask her. She replied: "I have never been engaged to him; you must have heard false news."
"Probably," he said, "it was Old Jacques who told me so."