His blank amazement amply repaid her for this random shot. "What nonsense! She must have been immensely annoyed."
Pamela smiled. "She wasn't. You haven't an idea, I suppose, that you're something of a lion—with your Philippine record and the medal they talk of giving you for bravery."
"Oh, rot!"
"How eloquent! It got all about, the report, I mean. Eva Astry asked about it the day Rachel's engagement to Belhaven was announced."
"I didn't know until to-day that—that Miss Leven was married." Charter flattered himself that his tone was casual and he busied himself with Pamela's sugar-bowl.
She eyed him shrewdly. "It was almost as sudden as a stroke of apoplexy," she remarked, sipping her tea.
"What?"
"Rachel's marriage; what else did you suppose?"
"I don't see why it should have been sudden. I seem to remember that Mrs. Astry's was—"
"A sort of nine days' wonder? Yes, but Rachel's was more amazing in a different way."