"Hasn't he been here this evening?"
His rueful brows mounted higher and higher till his forehead was all little creases, which, oddly enough, Nell remembered afterwards.
"No—no, he hasn't— But I saw him—about—about—"
"Oh, would you mind being quick?" she broke in irritatedly; her cheeks were a vivid pink, her eyes shone. Ted, looking at her, suddenly burst out, "I say, are you O'Brien's sister?"
"Oh, no, his aunt!"
It wasn't a dignified retort, but the extreme and very scornful exasperation in the sarcastic inflection made him redden to the roots of his hair.
"When did you see him? Oh, do tell me quickly!"
"I beg pardon. It's—er—a trifle disconcerting," a gleam of humour shot into his grey eyes, "rather unexpected, you know, and—er—all that. I saw him about three, I think."
"Oh!" gasped she. "That must have been in the bank! You know—you must know—I don't mean that! Where is he now?"
"I don't know," patiently.