He was charmed with her quaintness.
"Was he grave and noble?—Amadis, I mean?" he asked, his blue eyes sparkling with a kind of mirthful ardour. "You are sure? Well, all honour to him! And to YOU—for believing in him! I hope you'll consider me kindly for his sake! Will you?"
A quick blush suffused her cheeks.
"Of course!—I must do so!" she answered, simply. "I owe him so much—" then, fearful of betraying her secret of literary authorship, she hesitated—"I mean—he taught me all I know. I studied all his old books…."
Just then their cheery host came up.
"Well! Have you made friends? Ah!—I see you have! Mutual intelligence, mutual comprehension! Jocelyn, will you bring Miss Innocent in to supper?—I leave her in your charge."
"Miss Innocent?" repeated Jocelyn, doubtful as to whether this was said by way of a joke or not.
"Yes—some people call her Ena—but her real name is Innocent. Isn't it, little lady?"
She smiled and coloured. Jocelyn looked at her with a curious intentness.
"Really? Your name is Innocent?" he asked.