"Lois," he said, "this is the first day I have seen you like your old self. I can't tell you how glad I am."
"I wasn't aware, Maurice," she said, "that I have been very different. I have had headaches now and then, lately. Fancy having a headache an afternoon like this!" she added, throwing back her head once more, and breathing in the fresh, invigorating air.
"You ought to have seen a doctor," her companion declared. "I told Lady Mary so the other day."
"Nothing of the sort," Captain Vandermere replied. "I was beginning to worry about you. I almost fancied----"
"It almost seemed," he continued, a little awkwardly, "as though you had something on your mind. You seemed so queer every now and then, little girl," he added, "I do hope that if there was anything bothering you, you'd tell me all about it. We're old pals, you know."
"My dear Maurice," she said, "of course there has been nothing of that sort the matter with me! What could I have on my mind?"
"No love affairs, eh?" he asked, stroking his fair moustache.
He tightened his grasp upon her arm. He had an idea that he was being very diplomatic indeed. And Lady Mary had begged him to find out whatever was the matter with poor dear Lois!
"Well," he said, "I am glad to hear it. To tell you the truth, I have been very jealous lately."
"Captain Maurice Vandermere jealous!" she repeated, looking up at him with dancing eyes--"absolutely the most popular bachelor in London! And jealous of me, too!"
"Is that so very wonderful, Lois?" he asked. "We have been pretty good friends, you know."
She felt his hand upon her arm, and she looked away.
"Yes," she said, "we have been friends, only we haven't seen much of one another the last month or so, have we?"
"It hasn't been my fault," he declared. "I really couldn't get leave before, although I tried hard. I shouldn't have been here now, to tell you the truth, Lois," he went on, "but Lady Mary's been frightening me a bit."
"Well, nothing definite," Captain Vandermere answered, "but of course you know she's an awful good pal of mine, and she did write me a line or two about you. It seems there's some young fellow been about down here whom she isn't very stuck on, and she seemed to be afraid----"
