"Really?" she said. "And may I ask--whether you _have_
come back for that?"
"I--I hardly know," Elfrida faltered. "You know what I
think about marriage--there is so much to consider."
"Doubtless," Janet returned. Her head was throbbing with
the question why this girl would not go--go--_go!_ How
had she the hardihood to stay another instant! At any
moment her father might come in, and then how could she
support the situation? But all she added was, "I am afraid
it is a matter which we cannot very well discuss." Then
a bold thought came to her, and without weighing it she
put it into words. The answer might put everything
definitely--so definitely--at an end.
"Mr. Kendal went to remonstrate with you, too, didn't
he? It must have been very troublesome and embarrassing--"
Janet stopped. Elfrida had turned paler, and her eyes
greatened with excitement. "_No,_" she said, "I did not
see Mr. Kendal. What do you mean? Tell me!"
"Perhaps I have no right. But he told me that he had seen
you, at Cheynemouth."
"He must have been in the audience," Elfrida returned,
in a voice that was hardly audible.
"Perhaps."
For a moment there was silence between them--a natural
silence, and no dumbness.
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