" Her quick smile flashed
across her face and was gone. "That's all," she said. "I tore up to my
room, and scribbled that paragraph straight away. I dared not wait for
anything. And then I wrote to you. You had my letter with the paper this
morning."
"Yes, I had them." Rivington spoke absently. She had a feeling that his
eyes were fixed upon her without seeing her. "So that's all, is it?" he
said slowly.
Again nervously her hands moved beneath his.
"I've been very headlong and idiotic," she said impulsively. "I've put
you in an intolerable position. You must write at once and contradict it
in the next issue."
"Do you mind not talking nonsense for a minute?" he said mildly. "I
shall see my way directly."
She dropped into instant silence, sitting tense and mute, scarcely even
breathing, while the pale blue eyes opposite remained steadily and
unblinkingly fixed upon her face.
After a few moments he spoke.
"When does your mother return?"
"To-morrow morning." She hesitated for a second; then, "Of course she
will be furious," she said. "You won't be able to argue with her. No one
can."
Rivington's eyes looked faintly quizzical.
"I don't propose to try," he said. "She is, as I well know, an adept in
the gentle art of snubbing. And I am no match for her there. She has,
moreover, a rooted objection to poor relations, for which I can hardly
blame her--a prejudice which, however, I am pleased to note that you do
not share.
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