Fear of discovery is a woman’s broken heart, he made a note of it, while he answered:
“No one knows. You may be quite sure of that. I arranged it with my friend. You may tell Miss Cooper I am glad I can set her—mind at rest.”
He meant at first to say heart.
“She does not care, she does not think of that,” she answered. “She has not seen him for six months . . . she loves him, he loved her . . . she made him leave her.”
“Really!”
“It is terrible to hear her. She does not cry, she merely moans. . . . You will have some tea?”
“I would like some tea,” he answered. “I am very tired.”
He felt much refreshed. Miss Archer had discrimination, and evidently was a good housekeeper.
“You stay in town for some time?” he asked. “Miss Archer, are you not the hansom girl? Mr. George told me about it, I remember. It applies to you both with and without a ‘d’.”
She smiled, and did not thank him.