But one learns such truths only by experience; and Miss Gaynor is
naturally inexperienced."
"Of course--but--supposing her act a natural one--" he floundered
lamentably among his innuendoes--"I still don't see--how there was
anything--"
"Anything to take hold of? There wasn't--"
"Well, then--?" escaped him, in crude satisfaction; but as she did
not complete the sentence he went on with a faltering laugh: "She
can hardly object to the existence of a mere friendship between us!"
"But she does," said Mrs. Vervain.
Thursdale stood perplexed. He had seen, on the previous day, no
trace of jealousy or resentment in his betrothed: he could still
hear the candid ring of the girl's praise of Mrs. Vervain. If she
were such an abyss of insincerity as to dissemble distrust under
such frankness, she must at least be more subtle than to bring her
doubts to her rival for solution. The situation seemed one through
which one could no longer move in a penumbra, and he let in a burst
of light with the direct query: "Won't you explain what you mean?"
Mrs. Vervain sat silent, not provokingly, as though to prolong his
distress, but as if, in the attenuated phraseology he had taught
her, it was difficult to find words robust enough to meet his
challenge. It was the first time he had ever asked her to explain
anything; and she had lived so long in dread of offering
elucidations which were not wanted, that she seemed unable to
produce one on the spot.
At last she said slowly: "She came to find out if you were really
free.
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