Finch read the letter through with so distraught an expression that Alayne burst into hysterical laughter.
"Oh, Finch, don't!" she gasped. "You look so funny, I can't bear it!"
"I don't see anything funny about it," he said. "I think it's terrible."
"Of course it's terrible. That's what makes it so funny. That, and your expression!" She leaned against the wall, her hand pressed to her side, half laughing, half crying.
He strode toward Eden's room and flung open the door. It was in a state of disorder such as Eden alone could achieve. Alayne came and stood beside Finch, looking into the room. He could feel that she was shaking from head to foot. He put his arm about her.
"Dear Alayne, don't tremble so! I'm afraid you'll be ill."
"I'm all right. Only I'm very tired, and Eden's way of doing things is so unexpected!"
"I'll say it is! I'm the one that ought to know. He didn't tell me he was going to take a girl with him when he borrowed the money."
She was bewildered. "Borrowed the money? What money?"
"The money for the year in France. I raised it for him. But for heaven's sake don't tell Renny of it or I'll get into a frightful row!"
She ceased trembling, her face set. "He borrowed money from you—to go to France?"
He assented, not without self-importance.
