"And, pray, why not?" he demanded.
Her brown eyes looked straight into his and held them steadily.
"Because people talk about it."
"I cannot help people talking. You know what they are," said Wickersham, amused.
"You can prevent giving them occasion to talk. You are too good a friend of Cousin Louise to cause her unhappiness." The honesty of her words was undoubted. It spoke in every tone of her voice and glance of her eyes. "She is most unhappy."
Wickersham conceived a new idea. How lovely she was in her soft blue dress!
"Very well, I will do what you say There are few things I would not do for you." He stepped closer to her and gazed in her eyes. "Sit down. I want to talk to you."
"Thank you; I must go now."
Wickersham tried to detain her, but she backed away, her hands down and held a little back.
"Good-by."