“Don’t come so close to me,” she said.
“What on earth have you rung the bell for?” asked the man.
“Because I ought not to be alone with you.”
They stood looking into each other’s eyes. Then Clare moved quickly toward the sofa as Mollie came in.
“Oh, Mollie,” said Clare, trying to steady her voice, “ask Mrs. Heywood to come in, will you? Tell her Mr. Bradshaw is here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Mollie. “But she knows that already.”
“Take my message, please,” said her mistress.
“I was going to, ma’am,” said Mollie, and she added in an undertone, as she left the room, “Strange as it may appear.”
Gerald laughed quite light-heartedly.
“Yes, you have won the trick this time. But I hold the trump cards, Clare; and I am very lucky, as a rule. I have a gambler’s luck. Of course if the old lady comes in I shan’t stay. She hates me like poison, and I can’t be polite to her. Insincerity is not one of my vices. Good-night, dear heart. I will come to you in your dreams.”