"
"Then I am curious to know--"
"Let your curiosity plead for me, then."
With a sigh of impatience he yielded, and led the way to the
drawing-room, which was at the other end of the hall. Mary turned
and shut the door he left open.
"Why all this mystery, Miss Marston?" he said. "I am not aware of
anything between you and me that can require secrecy."
He spoke with unconcealed scorn.
"When I have made my communication, you will at least allow
secrecy to have been necessary."
"Some objects may require it!" said Wardour, in a tone itself an
insult.
"Mr. Wardour," returned Mary, "I am here for your sake, not my
own. May I beg you will not render a painful duty yet more
difficult?"
"May _I_ beg, then, that you will be as brief as possible? I
am more than doubtful whether what you have to say will seem to
me of so much consequence as you suppose."
"I shall be very glad to find it so."
"I can not give you more than ten minutes." Mary looked at her
watch.
"You have lately become acquainted with Miss Yolland, I am told,"
she began.
"Whew!" whistled Godfrey, yet hardly as if he were surprised.
"I have been compelled to know a good deal of that lady."
"As lady's-maid in her family, I believe."
"Yes," said Mary--then changing her tone after a slight pause,
went on: "Mr. Wardour, I owe you more than I can ever thank you
for.
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