Helen laughed happily.
"Perhaps that will depend upon how glad I think you are to have us."
She gave him an ardent glance, which he was not proof against, nor would any other man have been so.
"No doubt of that." He laughed with her, his disappointment passing before the old love spell, which she knew so well how to cast about him. "You couldn't have come at a better time, either, for now there is some one here who can be company for you. That is," he added lamely, "when you're tired of having me around."
"Really?" Helen was a bit chilled by this obvious faux pas. Truly, despite his worth as a man, Gordon Wade was no courtier. "Who is it?"
"Of course, you haven't heard of her, but you'll like her. She's Miss Dorothy Purnell. Everybody does like her."
Helen affected a gayety which she could scarcely have been expected to feel. Although she was not socially adept in concealing her real feeling, Wade saw nothing wrong. Only the Senator twisted his mouth in a grim smile.
"Oh, but I have heard of her; indeed, I have. Mr. Moran sent me a little photograph of you both on horseback. Just see how her fame has crossed the continent. I shall be charmed to meet her."
A great light dawned upon Wade.