“I don’t know,” the girl answered.
“I never knew one of the fellows who didn’t like you, but you, you don’t seem to care for any of them. Don’t they suit you?” Thaine asked. 285
“Yes, but I can’t think much about them.”
“Why not?”
Leigh drew a long breath.
“Thaine, you have always been a good friend to me. Some day I’ll tell you why.”
“Tell me now,” Thaine insisted gently.
Leigh looked up, a mist of tears in her violet eyes.
“Oh, little girl, forgive me. It’s because—because,” Thaine hesitated. “Because deep down where nobody ever knew I’ve loved you always, Leigh. I didn’t know how much until the night of my party and the day we were at Wykerton.”
“Thaine! Thaine! you mustn’t say such things,” Leigh cried, gripping her hands together. “You mustn’t! You mustn’t!”