"All right?"
"I mean the incident in the garage. Master Ronald applied vigorously for your discharge."
Armitage smiled.
"I imagined he would. The application was not sustained?"
"Hardly. At first, of course, Mrs. Wellington was quite indignant. Then Miss Wellington came in and really she was a perfect fury in your behalf. She made Master Ronald confess he had been smoking and showed quite clearly that you were right."
"Bully for her! As a matter of fact, I don't think it was any of my business. But that chap got on my nerves."
"He gets on all our nerves. But I 'm quite sure he 's all right at heart. It's a disagreeable age in a boy." She paused and gazed steadily at Armitage for a second. "I cannot imagine why you are here, Mr. McCall. And yet—and yet, I wonder." She shrugged her shoulders. "Pray don't think me rude," she said and smiled, "but I really am—hoping. I can read Anne Wellington at times, and you—oh, I am rude—but I seem to read you like an open book."
Armitage was looking at her curiously, but obviously he was not offended. She stepped towards him impulsively.
"Oh, Mr. Arm—McCall—-" she stopped, blushing confusedly.
The break was too much even for Armitage's presence of mind. He jerked his head upward, then collecting himself resumed his expression of amused interest. The secretary made no attempt to dissemble her agitation.