Page:A M Williamson - The Motor Maid.djvu/116

100 not because he was afraid, I think, but because Mr. John Dane's chin was much squarer and firmer than his; and because such sense of justice as he had told him that the newcomer was within his rights.

"And I beg mademoiselle's pardon," he replied with a bow and a flourish.

"I'm so glad you've come—but I oughtn't to be, and I did n't expect you," I said, when my chauffeur had pulled out a chair for me at the end of the table farthest from the other maids and chauffeurs.

"Why not?" he wanted to know, sitting down by my side.

"Because I suppose it's the best hotel in town, and ⸺"

"Oh, you 're thinking of my pocket! I wish I had n't said what I did last night. Looking back, it sounds caddish. But I generally do blurt out things stupidly. If I did n't, I should n't be 'shuvving' now—only that 's another story. To tell the whole truth, it was n't the state of my pocketbook alone that influenced me last night. I had two other reasons. One was a selfish one, and the other, I hope, unselfish."

"I hope the selfish one was n't fear of being bored?"

"If that's a question, it doesn't deserve an answer. But because you 've asked it, I 'll tell you both reasons. I 'd stopped at La Reserve before, in—in rather different circumstances, and I thought—not only might it make talk about me, but ⸺"

"I understand," I said. "Of course, Lady Turnour is n't as careful a chaperon as she ought to be."

Then we both laughed, and the danger-signals were