"
"Oh I don't care for her conversation--I know what it amounts to." I
made no reply--I scarcely knew what reply to make--and the girl went on:
"I know what she thinks and I know what she says." Still I was silent,
but the next moment I saw my discretion had been wasted, for Miss Mavis
put to me straight: "Does she make out that she knows Mr. Porterfield?"
"No, she only claims she knows a lady who knows him."
"Yes, that's it--Mrs. Jeremie. Mrs. Jeremie's an idiot!" I wasn't in a
position to controvert this, and presently my young lady said she would
sit down. I left her in her chair--I saw that she preferred it--and
wandered to a distance. A few minutes later I met Jasper again, and he
stopped of his own accord to say: "We shall be in about six in the
evening of our eleventh day--they promise it."
"If nothing happens, of course."
"Well, what's going to happen?"
"That's just what I'm wondering!" And I turned away and went below with
the foolish but innocent satisfaction of thinking I had mystified him.
CHAPTER IV
"I don't know what to do, and you must help me," Mrs. Nettlepoint said to
me, that evening, as soon as I looked in.
"I'll do what I can--but what's the matter?"
"She has been crying here and going on--she has quite upset me.
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