Page:The Finer Grain (London, Methuen & Co., 1910).djvu/102

90 manner that made Traffle feel quite possessed at last of his confidence.

"Even if you keep quiet I shall know you're not, and shall believe also you won't have thought me one." To which, in the exaltation produced by this, he next added: "Isn't she, with it all—with all she has done for you I mean—splendidly fond of you?"

The question proved, however, but one of those that seemed condemned to cast, by their action, a chill; which was expressed, on the young man's part, with a certain respectful dryness. "How do you know, sir, what Miss Montravers has done for me?"

Sidney Traffle felt himself enjoy, on this, a choice of replies—one of which indeed would have sprung easiest from his lips. "Oh! now, come!" seemed for the instant what he would have liked most to hear himself say; but he renounced the pleasure even though making up for it a little by his actual first choice. "Don't I know at least that she left the honourable shelter of this house for you?"

Walter Puddick had a wait. "I never asked it of her."

"You didn't seduce her; no,—and even her aunt doesn't accuse you of it. But that she should have given up—well, what she has given up, moderately as you may estimate it," Traffle again smiled—"surely has something to say about her case?"

"What has more to say than anything else,"