Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/48

Rh of her own to wear it in the prevailing fashion."

"She is the kind of girl," Preston rejoined, "of whom other women wouldn't want to say that, if they could."

But young Preston, though fully conscious of the goodness of her appearance, was not most concerned with that just then. Though her first welcoming word was surely meant for only an acceptable greeting, he had imagined it held just a touch of the feminine relief in it which women travelling alone should properly feel upon finding a friend again; and he thrilled hotly with it.

The girl herself seemed to feel that she had betrayed something; for, as she released her hand, she laughed at him teasingly.

"But what, Mr. Preston," she demanded, "in the wide world can you be doing here in Ely, a cathedral town? What has brought you to this?"

"I can't tell you!" young Preston laughed joyfully, as the full realization of her 30