Whether she was more he had to wait to learn with what patience he could.

He was free to turn to her at last and he began without any preliminaries.
"You know a friend of mine," he said.
"I do ?" "Yes." "Who is it ?" "Mrs.Ballantyne." He noticed at once a change in Mrs.Repton.The frankness disappeared from her face; her eyes grew wary.
"I see," she said slowly.

"I was wondering why I was placed next to you, for you are the lion of the evening and there are people here of more importance than myself.

I knew it wasn't for my _beaux yeux_." She turned again to Thresk.
"So you know my Stella ?" "Yes.

I knew her in England before she came out here and married.