She cried out impulsively:
"Oh—goodness!" so loud that one or two tea-drinkers turned about. After a second, having gained control and half as though she expected some motive she did not understand:
"But you never heard of me before to-day! I don't believe you really liked that portrait over there so very much."
With a candor that impressed her he assured her: "I give you my word of honor I've never felt quite so about any portrait before."
Here Miss Desprey had a cup of tea handed her by a vague-eyed girl who stumbled over Bulstrode in her ministrations, much to her confusion.
Laura Desprey drank her tea with avidity, put the cup down on the table near, and leaning over to her patron, exclaimed:
"I just can't believe I've got an order!"
Bulstrode affirmed smiling: "You have, and if you could arrange to stay over for it—if it would," he delicately put, "be worth your while——"
She said quietly:
"Yes, it would be worth my while."