"Ha! Have I caught you? You are engaged already? Why did you never tell? Surely you might have trusted your big brother. You never saw me till the other day, it is true, but we have been fast friends for twelve months now, have we not, Mary? Why did you never tell me?" And he drew her towards him as he spoke, and kissed her on the forehead. "Think I feel no interest in my future heir?"
"Because, Gerald, you do not know him. How could I tell you?"
"Tell me now, then, dear. Who is he?"
"You must find out," she answered with a watery smile and changing colour. "Girls are not expected to say such things, because they cannot."
"You say I do not know him? Have I seen him?"
"Yes."
"Do I know him by sight? Or have I seen him recently?"
"Yes, very recently indeed--as recently as could be."
"What? Then--you do not say? But it cannot be, Mary?"
There was a self-convicted look in Mary's face which pleaded guilty to the unspoken indictment.