"Know that—well, that you like him?"
Norma raised serious eyes, looked unsmilingly into Rose's smiling face.
"Nobody knows. It—it isn't going right, Rose. I can't tell you about all of it——" She paused.
"Well, I wouldn't know the people if you did," Rose said, sensibly. And suddenly she added, timidly, "Norma, there isn't another girl?"
"Well, yes, there is, in a way," Norma conceded, after thought.
"That he likes better?" Rose asked, quickly.
"No, I don't think he likes her better!" Norma answered.
"Well, then——?" Rose summarized, triumphantly.
But there was no answering flash from Norma, who was looking down again, and who still wore a troubled expression, although, as Rose rejoiced to see, it was less bitter than it had been.
"Rose," she said, gravely, "if he was already bound in honour; if he was—promised, to her?"