"It's a curious thing," he said, with that odd new smile of his, "what a resemblance there is between you and Mrs. Austin."
"What Mrs. Austin?" began the girl opposite; but got no further, for Cecil Gay was appealing to him to act as arbiter in a disputed Bridge question; and he did so with nice discrimination and a logical explanation which tided matters over that time. But it was a close call; and the color had not all returned to Cecil's cheeks when he finished, with great credit to his own reputation as a Bridge expert.
But the very deuce seemed to possess him to talk on subjects from which she strove to lead him.
These are the other breaks he made, and as far as he got with each break—stopped neatly every time in time:
"Curious I haven't seen Jack Aus——"
"Mrs. Austin does resemble——"
"This is the first time I have ever been in Bev——"
And each time she managed to repair the break unnoticed. But it was telling on her; she couldn't last another round—she knew that. Only the figurative bell could save her now. And she could almost hear it as her sister rose.
Saved! But—but—what might some of these men say to him if he lingered here for coffee and cigarettes?
"You won't, will you?" she said desperately, as all rose.