"Nonsense!" exclaimed Victoria; "we got along perfectly the other day when he rescued me from the bushes. What's the matter with him?"
Austen laughed, and their eyes met.
"I think he is rather surprised to see you here," he said.
"And you?" returned Victoria. "Aren't you equally out of place?"
He did not care to go into an explanation of Tom's suspicion in regard to
Mr. Crewe.
"My curiosity was too much for me," he replied, smiling.
"So was mine," she replied, and suddenly demanded: "What did you think of
Humphrey's speech?"
Their eyes met. And despite the attempted seriousness of her tone they joined in an irresistible and spontaneous laughter. They were again on that plane of mutual understanding and intimacy for which neither could account.
"I have no criticism to make of Mr. Crewe as an orator, at least," he said.
Then she grew serious again, and regarded him steadfastly.