“The woman tempted me, and I did fall,” she sneered. “I suppose that is what you mean?”
“I mean, Miss Barnhelm, that I love you! I am not fool enough to dream that you could care enough for a man like me to let me make any difference in your life, but I can’t let you go away from me like this!”
“My poor boy,” she spoke kindly, and looked at him with something very like sadness in her eyes, “you are making a mistake. We met yesterday in your boat. We walked together for a moment in the evening; that is all.”
“And—and last night?”
“Was a dream.”
“No!”
“Just a dream, and dreams don’t last. You must go now, quickly, please, because I see Mr. Fenway coming.”
“Go and leave you to him!”
“Yes.”
He did not answer, but he had not the least idea of going; she saw that in the same glance that showed her that Dick had seen them together and had quickened his pace. She must not let these two men meet; there was danger in that; this young man must be made to go, and in less than a minute. She looked up at him, flashing one look straight into his eyes.