"But of course there
is nothing," she replied, gently.
"Oh, there must be!" he insisted. He had no longer any
clear notions as to where his tongue might not lead him.
"There must be! You said I might talk to you as I would
to Julia
"Did I?"
"Well, I'm going to, anyway," he went on stoutly,
ignoring the note of definite dissent in her interruption.
"You ARE unhappy! You spoke about being a chaperone.
Well now, to speak plainly, if it isn't entirely pleasant
for you with Miss Madden--why wouldn't you be a chaperone
for Julia? I must be going to London very soon--but
she can stay here, or go to Egypt, or wherever she
likes--and of course you would do everything, and have
everything--whatever you liked, too."
"The conversation is getting upon rather impossible grounds,
I'm afraid," she said, and then bit her lips together.
Halting, she frowned a little in the effort of considering
her further words, but there was nothing severe in the
glance which she lifted to him as she began to speak.
"Let us walk on. I must tell you that you misconceive
the situation entirely. Nobody could possibly be kinder
or more considerate than Miss Madden. Of course she
is American--or rather Irish-American, and I'm English,
and our notions and ways are not always alike. But that has
nothing to do with it.
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