"I should say I would," cried the secretary.
"I knew it! I knew it! They couldn't make me believe anything against you. I knew you were all I thought you. Oh, Mr. Haines, prove you are that for my—"
Then Hope Georgia abruptly stopped. She had lost her head, and in the enthusiasm of the moment had revealed her real feelings—something she would never do presumably when she grew more wise in the ways of women.
She suddenly thrust Haines' hands from her own and stood staring at him, wondering—wondering if he had guessed.
Strangely enough, under the circumstances, the girl was the first to recover and break the awkward silence.
"Come to our house to-night, Mr. Haines. There's to be a dinner and a musicale, as you know; but that won't matter. No matter who says no, I promise you that you shall see father. There shall be an explanation."
"Thank you, Miss Hope. You don't realize all you've done for me," said Bud, seriously. "It's a wonderful thing to find a girl who believes in a man. You've taught me a lot, Miss Hope. Thank you."
"Good-by, Mr. Haines. Come to-night," she said, as she turned and hurried away.
Bud Haines stood looking after her, thoughtfully.
"What a stunning girl she is! I've seemed to overlook her, with the rush of events—and Carolina," he murmured, softly. "We never were such very great friends, yet she believes in me. What a beauty she is!"