“Yes, I am tired,” answered Leslie; “but I don’t mind how long I wait up if I can really help you.”
“You cannot help me. I have quite changed my mind. It is better for you to know nothing whatever about me.”
Annie moved to the other end of the room and began to take off her things. She tossed her hat on the nearest chair; her jacket had already tumbled on to the floor, but she had not observed it. She then began to unfasten her dress, and, taking down her untidy red hair, twisted it up into a knot at the back of her head.
“I wonder if it is quite certain,” she said presently, “if
the Mr. Charles Parker you know is the one in whose office my brother has been?”
“It is impossible for me to tell you that,” replied Leslie. “I only know that our friend’s name is Charles Parker, that he made his fortune in Sydney, and that he is now in the city.”
Annie heaved a great sigh of mingled relief and perplexity.
“It must be the same,” she said. “Leslie, you are a very good girl, and I am sorry I was rude to you to-day.”
“It does not matter about that in the least,” replied Leslie. “I wish you would think more of how you are to get out of your scrape. Miss Lauderdale was considerably annoyed at your not attending the meeting. Are you prepared to apologize to-morrow?”
“Of course I am. Oh, by the way, what did you say about me?”