CHAPTER XVI
She remains behind without a laugh. She is not, however, left long to her own reflections, for scarcely is young Ducane out of sight before Prue reappears. Her eyes are dried, and her cheeks look hot and bright.
'Well?' she says, in a rather hard voice, coming and standing before her sister.
'Well, dear!' returns Peggy, taking one of her hands and gently stroking it.
'Has he been talking to you about it?' asks the young girl, with a quick short breathing.
'I have been talking to him about it,' returns Margaret gravely, 'if that is the same thing.'
'And you have told him that I—I—am not to go?'
'Yes.'
Prue has pulled her hand violently away, which for a few moments is her only rejoinder; then: