Page:The woman, the man, and the monster (IA womanmanmonster00dawe).pdf/294

 “Oh, no! What could one do?”

“There is only one other alternative.”

She protested prettily, and she was a pretty girl in rather a fragile manner. Her complex- ion, though pale, perhaps a little too pale, was amazingly clear, and free of all suggestion of unhealthiness. She had an exceedingly sweet red mouth, a straight nose, and fine dark eyes. Once he had thought those eyes full of wonder ——until he had looked into eyes more wonder- ful.

“But what are you doing here?” she asked suddenly. “I thought you were motoring in Scotland.”

“Man proposes.” But his smile was not so :

free of embarrassment as he might have wished.

“We had a serious breakdown, so I seized the —

opportunity to return and do a little business.” She received his explanation without the least sign of suspicion, though there was a wist-

ful, wondering look in her eyes which made him : feel inexplicably guilty, and led almost to fur- — ther explanation, which might have taken the — fatal form of apology. People always said — it was not easy to lie with Pauline Clarendon’s —

great, serious eyes staring at one.