"I am afraid——" he began.
"Yes? What are you afraid of?" she asked.
"You see, my sister is going away very shortly; in fact, she may leave any day," he answered confusedly.
"Oh, I am so sorry," she said simply.
"Yes," he continued desperately, "and, of course, as her stay here is going to be so very short, she thinks—I mean she fears——"
"Well, go on," said Fenella calmly.
"She fears that she could not be of much assistance to you."
"But I myself am not going to stay long," she said. "But it will be very kind of her to let me see something of her before she leaves. It will silence the evil tongues."
"She feels that it will be scarcely worth while to make your acquaintance," said Jacynth, with a final violent kick at the gravel.
"I understand," said Fenella, in altogether a different voice, and the light went out of her face.
"I can assure you——" said Jacynth, but Fenella stopped him.
"You need say no more," she said. "Your sister refuses to know me. I daresay she is right."
Then there was an awkward silence. Jacynth could find no excuses ready, and Fenella was inwardly very indignant. At last she managed to subdue her emotion sufficiently to say to him:
