"As I remember, you gave him marching orders once yourself. You mustn't mind if he goes of his own accord now."
"But he won't go of his own accord if you don't make him. Why do you? You're not afraid of me?"
"Oh, but I am."
Persis laughed with a kind of pride. "Really! You flatter me! But why?"
Tait twisted his big, soft hands together and stared at her a long while before he could speak. "This is very embarrassing, Mrs. Enslee; but since you are so frank, let me ask you one question. Will you answer it frankly?"
"That depends upon the question." Persis chuckled, never dreaming of its nature. When it came it was:
"Are you in love with Captain Forbes?"
She laughed evasively now. "What a remarkable question!"
The old lawyer repeated the demand:
"Are you in love with Captain Forbes?"