He stroked her hair with a gentle hand, as though she were in
very truth the child she tried not to be.
"Poor little one! I wish I could come across and put up here for the
night. Hang conventions, anyway! And then too I have to make ready for
some visitors who will be down to-morrow or the next day."
"Visitors, Nigel?"
"Yes, dear. I've a couple of--friends coming to spend a short time with
me. Chaps I met in London to-day."
"What did you go up for, Nigel--really?"
He coloured a little, and was thankful that she turned away at that
moment to straighten the collar of her blouse. He didn't like lying to
the woman he was going to marry. But he had given his word to Cleek.
"Oh," he said off-handedly, "I--I went to my tailor's. And then stepped
in to buy you that little trinket and your precious chocs, and came
along home again. Met these fellows on my way across town. Rather nice
chaps--one of 'em, anyhow. Used to know some friends of friends of his,
girl called Ailsa Lorne. And the other one happened to be there so I
asked him, too.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112