“Yes; I could not go away. I always thought it possible that there might be some errand—something you would tell me to do. At all events I must have stayed for——”
The funeral he would have added. He could not but feel that though Alice had given him her hand, there was a little hesitation about her.
“But, Mr. Fairfax,” Bell began again, “you were staying at the inn with—the little gentleman. Don’t you know he is our enemy now?”
“I don’t think he is your enemy,” Fairfax said—which was not at all what he meant to say.
“Hush, Bell, that was not what it was; only mamma thought—and I—that poor Paul was your friend and that you would not have put yourself—on the other side.”
“I put myself on the other side!” cried the young man. “Oh, how little you know! I was going to offer to go out to that place myself to make sure, for it does not matter where I go. I am not of consequence to any one like Paul; but——”
“But—what?”
Alice half put out her hand to him again.
“You will not think this is putting myself on the other side. It all looks so dreadfully genuine,” said Fairfax, sinking his voice.
Only Alice heard what he said. She was unreasonable, as girls are.