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Page 115
"Why should I?"
"Then you meant to let it go at that?" He drew a sharp breath. "Just
the way you flared off from that table--not a word more?"
"Why didn't you write?" the girl parried.
"I did," indignantly. "Twice--to Alexandria."
"Oh.... I didn't get them."
"I wrote, all right. I was so stirred up over that alarm of Hill's
that I urged you to answer me at once. And when you didn't, and when
I heard you _had_ written the Evershams, well, I thought I knew what
I had to think.... When I met you here Friday I half expected you to
cut me, upon my word!"
"But I didn't!" She laughed softly. "I remembered you--perfectly."
"Oh, you did, did you?... You've acted as if that was about all you
did remember."
"I've been very, _very_ nice to you!"
"But with a difference," he insisted resentfully. "Didn't you know I
must have written? You didn't think I wanted to let it stop there,
did you? You didn't think I meant that nonsense at tea----"
"Please don't go back to that," said the girl hurriedly. "We've been
good friends these three days without bringing it up--don't let us
do it now."
"Well, I don't enjoy thinking about it." His voice was sharp with
feeling. "You gave me the most miserable time of my life."
"I was very horrid."
"You told me you didn't give a _piastre_ for what I thought!"
"I said I didn't give half a _piastre_!" murmured Arlee
irrepressibly, with a wicked dimple.
Reluctantly he grinned. "Well?" he put to her questioningly.
"Well?"
Their eyes met, sparkling, combative.
"You do, don't you?"
"What?"
"You do give a _piastre_ for what I----"
"I'm afraid I do. I'm afraid I give a good many _piastres_ for what
everyone thinks." The girl's smile had suddenly faded; her eyes
lowered and sought the far horizons.
In the silence he came a little closer to her. "Then Arlee--Arlee,
dear----"
She started, and turned hurriedly. "We must go down----"
"Why must we?"
"They'll be waiting."
"Let 'em. They'll be glad of the chance if they can get away from
Emma.... I want to talk to you."
"I think Mr. Hill is quite as nice as Lady Claire," flashed Arlee in
a childish voice.
"Claire seems to agree with you." Falconer spoke lightly, but
underneath sounded the note of the disgruntled male ... resentful of
the defection of even the girls he left behind him. He added, with
his fatal gift of truculent expression, "But that's perfectly
absurd."
"Why absurd?" Arlee's voice held careful calm. The flash in her eyes
was hidden.
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