"
Ann's heart sank. If Eliot thought that--felt like that about Brett,
then there could be no hope of forgiveness if he ever found out that she
had been to supper with him on the yacht. And now, appearances would be
even stronger against her. It would look as though she had gone there
deliberately in defiance of Eliot's expressed wishes.
She became unwontedly quiet--so much so that Eliot's solicitude was
awakened.
"What's the matter with you to-day?" he asked, looking down keenly into
her face as he held her in his arms. "Are you depressed or worried about
anything, sweetheart?"
She roused herself to a smile.
"Worried? Why, what have I to be worried about--now we're together again?"
His face cleared.
"I suppose you're just feeling a bit lonely without that 'best brother' of
yours. Is that it?"
"Yes. That's it," she said, nodding emphatically. "I miss Robin. You--you
won't have to send him away again, Eliot."
"I don't think I shall," he returned, smiling, "if it reduces you to such a
wan-looking little person. You're quite pale, Ann mine."
At parting, she clung to him as though she could never let him go.
"Why, what's this, child?" he asked, genuinely perturbed.
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