"People are talking about her," he said.
"People are—?" she began, but stopped, looking at him all the while in that startled way.
"Talking about her," he repeated. "I guess it's been going on for some time—though I didn't hear about it until a little while ago."
"About what, Ted?" Her voice faltered and it seemed to make him suddenly conscious of what he was saying, to whom he spoke.
"Why,"—he faltered now too, "Mildred's acting sort of silly—that's all. I don't know—a flirtation, or something, with Billy Archer. You don't know him; he came here a few years ago on some construction work. He's an engineer. He is a fascinating fellow, all right," he added.
Ruth pushed back her chair into deeper shadow. "And—?" she suggested faintly.
"He's married," briefly replied Ted.
She did not speak for what seemed a long time. Ted was beginning to fidget. Then, "How old is Mildred, Ted?" Ruth asked in a very quiet voice.
"About twenty, I guess; she's a couple of years younger than I am."
"And this man?—how old is he?" That she asked a little sharply.