Forbes appeared at the door. He saw Persis, and there was no mistaking the love in his eyes. Then he saw Winifred and Mrs. Neff, and there was no mistaking his confusion, though he tried to put on a smile of delight at the sight of them.
Mrs. Neff grinned with rapturous malice, and bewildered Forbes utterly by asking three ironical questions and not staying for an answer:
"Changed your profession, Captain Forbes? A lawyer now? Specialty divorces?"
Then she nodded to Winifred, and they made their way out, ignoring Persis' outstretched hand.
CHAPTER LXV
FORBES stared after the two women in complete perplexity. He turned to Persis to ask stupidly:
"What did they mean, Persis?"
Persis had lost almost every whit of self-control. She had an insane desire to scream, to hide somewhere and go into hysterics. She sank into a chair and mumbled:
"They know everything."