Suddenly, she recovered her self-consciousness. She started back, flushed vividly, and let her eyes falter shyly from his gaze, while she murmured in a low voice:
"Do not try to thank me. Only live, that is all I ask!"
"Now that you are well I hope that I shall live. But when they told me you were so very, very ill I did not care if I died," and impulsively he kissed the hand he held, adding, "you know me, Miss Farnham. They have told you my name?"
She drew away the hand he had kissed, her whole frame thrilling, and with a struggle for calmness, answered smilingly:
"Mrs. Courtney has told me your name and position, and that your sojourn at Gray Gables is an honor to us."
"Nonsense! Mrs. Courtney knows that I am simply a lazy young vagabond who has inherited a fine old name and plenty of money, and that Azalea is making a dead set at me to get it," he rejoined, almost curtly in his vexation. "How I wish no one had recognized me here," he added, "then I should have palmed myself off on you as a poor young man, and tried to win your friendship on my personal merits."
"Is not that the only way, anyhow?" she queried ingenuously.
His blue eyes began to twinkle with the merry light of laughter.
"Mercy, no, Miss Farnham, I've never had a true friend in all my life! People value me solely for the length of my purse. Ask Miss Courtney if that is not true," and he smiled with sarcasm that puzzled Nita, but that also recalled to her mind Mrs. Courtney's displeasure if she should find her here with Dorian Mountcastle.
"I must go now. Mrs. Courtney did not wish me to come in here at all," she faltered, turning toward the door.
"Please stay a little while with me, won't you? There is not the least impropriety in it, I'm sure. That old cat is only trying to keep you in the background because you are so--beautiful--pardon my frankness, won't you? And do say you're not going yet. I want to thank you for these sweet roses--and, one minute, please--I'd like you to read to me every day to cheer me up. Will you? It would be so good of you to come to my rescue."
"Perhaps--perhaps--you might think the same of me."
"Never! I only wish you would! It would make me the happiest vagabond on earth if you only--beg pardon, Miss Farnham, indeed I did not mean to offend," for she had suddenly drawn back from him, her eyes startled, her cheeks pale, her pose haughty.