Holding one dog by the collar, she came down the pathway to meet them.
“How do you do,” she said. “You mustn’t mind Elizabeth. She’s just had some puppies and she’s very suspicious.”
She had a supremely natural manner and, as she looked up smiling, the faint wild rose flush deepened in her cheeks. Her eyes were a very dark blue—like cornflowers.
Suddenly they widened—was it with alarm? As though, already, she guessed.
Jimmy hastened to speak.
“This is Ronny Devereux, Miss Wade. You must often have heard Gerry speak of him.”
“Oh, yes.” She turned a lovely, warm, welcoming smile on him. “You’ve both been staying at Chimneys, haven’t you? Why didn’t you bring Gerry over with you?”
“We—er—couldn’t,” said Ronny, and then stopped.
Again Jimmy saw the look of fear flash into her eyes.
“Miss Wade,” he said, “I’m afraid—I mean, we’ve got bad news for you.”
She was on the alert in a moment.
“Gerry?”
“Yes—Gerry. He’s—”
She stamped her foot with sudden passion.