“As the mountain won’t come to Mahomet——”
Louis, of course, turned at once and resigned himself to the inevitable interview.
“To what fortunate circumstance am I to attribute the honor of Mrs. Vere’s society, so far outside the pale of civilization?” he said, adopting the bantering tone he usually made use of in talking to Mrs. Vere, in order to veil his real feeling.
“I am going out to see the Temples,” she replied; “I shall have to walk from the terminus. It’s such a nuisance having no carriage, and I’m sure I think I deserve one—don’t you? But what brings you out so far during business hours?”
“Business,” answered Gaston. “I am going to spy out the land for a new building enterprise.”
“What sort of building enterprise? I should say a charming cottage, suitable for a pair of domestic neophytes, designed by the architect for his own occupancy, if it were not that a dishevelled young Southerner, with an eccentric tailor and a beautiful voice, stands in the way of that idea! I’m afraid Miss Trevennon, for all her gentleness, must be rather cruel; for, judging by superficial evidences, she has beguiled the wary Mr. Gaston to the point of a futile hankering after Mr. Somers’ place. I suppose she has had the conscience to tell you she’s engaged.”
“Miss Trevennon?” said Louis, meeting her searching gaze without flinching, though his heart gave a great leap and then seemed to stand still. “She has not made me her confidant as to her matrimonial intentions; but if what you say is true, young Somers is a man I well might envy, whether I do or not.”
He hated the idea of seeming to discuss Margaret with this woman, and yet he was burning to hear more. He asked no questions, feeling sure that he could become possessed of whatever information Mrs. Vere had, without that concession on his part.
“Oh, there’s no doubt about its being true,” went on Mrs. Vere. “I happen to know the Welfords, the people Mr. Somers stayed with, very well. Mrs. Welford told me all about it. It seems this young fellow is troubled with a certain degree of impecuniosity, and he had received an offer from some people in South America to come out and join them in some business enterprise, and so he came on at once to consult Miss Trevennon; and it was agreed between them that he should go. The plan is that he is to return a millionnaire and marry her. I wonder she hasn’t told you.”
“Why should she? Ladies are apt to be reserved about such matters, however garrulous a man may think proper to be, and Mr. Somers, for one, seems to have been sufficiently communicative.”