The girl began again.
“This must be arranged at once,” she said, “but we must have no tragedy. Oliver, do you understand? You must not make a scene. Leave this to me.”
She spoke with a curious gaiety; and Percy to his astonishment saw that she was quite sincere: there was not the hint of cynicism.
“Oliver, my dear,” she said again, “don’t mouth like that! It is all perfectly right. I am going to manage this.”
Percy saw a venomous look directed at him by the man; the girl saw it too, moving her strong humorous eyes from one to the other. She put her hand on his knee.
“Oliver, attend! Don’t look at this gentleman so bitterly. He has done no harm.”
“No harm!” whispered the other.
“No—no harm in the world. What does it matter what that poor dear upstairs thinks? Now, sir, would you mind telling us why you came here?”
Percy drew another breath. He had not expected this line.
“I came here to receive Mrs. Brand back into the Church,” he said.