And if you did you never could come back
here. Freddie'd see that you got yours as soon as you landed."
Susan sat looking at her glass. Maud watched her in
astonishment. "You're as queer as Freddie," said she at
length. "I never feel as if I was acquainted with you--not
really. I never had a lady friend like that before. You don't
seem to be a bit excited about what Freddie's going to do. Are
you in love with him?"
Susan lifted strange, smiling eyes to Maud's curious gaze.
"I--in _love_--with a _man_," she said slowly. And then she laughed.
"Don't laugh that way," cried Maud. "It gives me the creeps.
What are you going to do?"
"What can I do?"
"Nothing."
"Then if there's nothing to do, I'll no nothing."
"Go to the Island for three months?"
Susan shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't gone yet." She rose.
"It's too stuffy and smelly in here," said she. "Let's move out."
"No. I'll wait. I promised to meet a gentleman friend here.
You'll not tell that I tipped you off?"
"You'd not have told me if you hadn't known I wouldn't."
"That's so. But--why don't you make it up with Freddie?"
"I couldn't do that."
"He's dead in love. I'm sure you could."
Again Susan's eyes became strange. "I'm sure I couldn't. Good
night." She got as far as the door, came back. "Thank you for
telling me."
"Oh, that's all right," murmured the girl. She was embarrassed
by Susan's manner.
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