Keith watched her in silence for a moment, and then rising, he seated himself beside her.
"Come--this is all wrong--all wrong!" He caught her by the wrist and firmly took her hand down from her eyes, much as an older brother might have done. "I want to talk to you. Perhaps, I can help you--I may have been sent here for the purpose--who knows? At least, I want to help you. Now tell me." He looked into her face with grave, kind eyes. "You do not care for Ferdy Wickersham? That would be impossible."
"No, of course not,--except as a friend,--and Norman liked another woman--your friend!" Her eyes flashed a sudden flame.
"Never! never!" repeated Keith, after a pause. "Norman is not that sort."
His absolute certainty daunted her.
"He did. I have reason to think--" she began. But Keith put her down.
"Never! I would stake my salvation on it."
"He is going to get a--try to get a divorce. He is willing to blacken my name."
"What! Never."
"But you do not know the reasons I have for saying so," she protested. "If I could tell you--"