With her customary smile of unconcerned intelligence, Mrs. Brough allowed herself to be drawn off. The young man slowly settled himself in the chair which Mrs. Gunnison had left.
“Oh, you shall not escape,” declared Miriam. “Mr. Leeds, I am so glad to be able to speak to you at last. I have so much to say to you. They told me that you would be here this afternoon. I wondered if I should see you.”
Leeds had not spoken, but looked at the girl with a steadiness which for a moment caused her to cast down her animated eyes.
“I missed you everywhere last winter,” she went on, more slowly. “And, of course, heard of you always.”
Leeds continued to inspect the girl with amusement in his glance.
“Oh, how splendid accomplishing something must be—standing for something!”
“Don’t you think that you are rather overvaluing my modest achievements?”
“Of course, you speak that way, but others do not,” she hurried on. “You are known from one end of the country to the other.”
“Really——” he began.