"Don't go," she said in a quick, low voice. "Don't go—yet. Even things that look impossible—can be made to come right."
He understood that she was pleading with him, partly for the sake of her own chance with Falconer, but the sympathy flicked him on the raw. He was sorry for her, sorry for the queer, strained look in her face, sorry for the voice so full of feeling, but he couldn't do anything to help her.
In silence he shook his head and was astounded at the look of sudden proud anger she darted at him.
"You're a mighty real friend to take such an interest in my luck," he said quickly, with warm liking in his voice, "and I only wish you could play fairy godmother and give me my wish—but you can't, Lady Claire, and apparently she won't, and that is the end of the matter. I have to take off my hat to the Better Man."
Lady Claire did not gasp or stammer or question. She did none of the dismayedly enlightening things into which a lesser poise might have tottered. After an inconsiderable moment of silence she merely uttered her familiar, "Oh!" and uttered it in a voice in which so many things were blended that their elements could hardly be perceived.
She added hurriedly, "I'm sorry if I've seemed to—to intrude into your affairs."
"My affairs are on my sleeve," answered Billy and wondered at the quick look she gave him.
"Oh, no—not at all," she answered a little breathlessly. "I'm sure they haven't seemed so to me—but then I'm stupid." She stopped for a moment of hot wonder at that stupidity. She had not believed Miss Falconer—had thought her prejudiced ... maneuvering.... Like lightning she reviewed the baffling interchange of sentences, then glanced up at Billy's silent absorption. She felt queerly grateful for his innocent density. "And perhaps she's stupid, too," she told him. "You'd better make sure. You'd better make absolutely sure."
He looked down on her with sorry humor in his face. "Do I need to make surer?" He nodded in the direction of the giant gateway. "They've had time to settle the divisions of the Balkans up there."
"Oh, yes, they've had time!" She seemed speaking at sudden laughing random. "But we've had the same time and you see we haven't settled anything with it—not even that you're to stay. Yes, you'd better make sure, Mr. Hill."