“Why do you say ‘Indeed’ in that incredulous way? You don’t know anything about Gretel’s friends, do you?”
“Nothing whatever, except——”
“Except what?” demanded Ada, sharply.
“Oh, nothing worth mentioning. I happened to see her talking to a man the other day, that’s all. I thought he looked like a German, but I may have been mistaken, of course.”
Ada’s eyes grew round, and her cheeks flushed.
“Where did you see her?” she inquired. “You ought to be willing to tell me all about it now you’ve begun.”
Jimmy Fairfax was beginning to look decidedly uncomfortable.
“It was in New London,” he said, “one afternoon about ten days ago. They were standing in front of one of the shops, and seemed to be talking very earnestly together. Miss Gretel didn’t see me, but I was just going to speak to her when they turned down one of the side streets. Afterwards I met Mrs. Chester, and she told me she was waiting for Gretel Schiller, who had left her to do some shopping. When she joined us a few minutes later, I thought she was looking rather flushed and excited.”
Ada looked very serious.
“It sounds queer,” she said. “Didn’t Gretel say anything about having met a friend?”