Evidently Mary regretted her quick reply, and now she tried to qualify.
“That was a queer thing for me to say,” she smiled, “but you know, I do hate—to meet strangers.”
“So do I, when I’m due to finish essays, meet dear Jane and otherwise merrily pass away the alleged free day.” Gloria tilted her head up characteristically.
“But I just wanted to know about the trains?” Mary demurred.
“Going away?”
“Only for the day. I had a business message this morning. My time table may be out of date,” she attempted to explain. “I believe they change schedules in October or is it November? Well, anyway I imagined you would know. When does the train come in and when does one go out?”
Gloria burst into a frank little laugh.
“Which way do you want to go?” she asked. “Not thinking of going up to the back woods junction?”
“Oh, no. I’m going into Blairton. But I supposed you were going down to meet the incoming train.” A flush of confusion spread over Mary’s fair skin.
For the moment Gloria showed her own perplexity. What, really, did Mary wish to know?