Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 2.djvu/108

94 Jean hesitated; she uneasily laughed. "Up—up—up: away up in her arms!"

Her companion was more literal. "A young woman of Effie's age must be a weight!"

"I know what weight—I've carried her. Miss Armiger did it precisely to prevent that."

"To prevent your carrying her?"

"To prevent my touching or, if possible, looking at her. She snatched her up and fled with her—to get her away from me."

"Why should she wish to do that?" Paul inquired.

"I think you had better ask her directly." Then Jean added: "As you say, she has taken her up. She's her occupation, from this time."

"Why, suddenly, from this time?"

"Because of what has happened."

"Between you and me?"

"Yes—that's one of her reasons."

"One of them?" laughed Paul. "She has so many?"

"She tells me she has two."

"Two? She speaks of it?"

Jean saw, visibly, that she mystified him; but she