Daniel Ballard bent his head, acknowledging what was more than mere compliment, by a silence sincerer than words.
"I must go. Where's Katherine?" he asked, after a moment.
"I don't know. Not at home, I fancy. Will you do me a favor?"
"If I can."
"Don't try to see her for a while. Leave her alone."
He had risen to go, but her words checked him.
"I can't give you any such promise," he said. "It seems a strange request for you to make."
"You don't trust me?"
"No. Not in this."
"You may."