Chris jumped off the arm of his chair with an abruptness that seemed to
indicate some perturbation of spirit. She went to one of the long windows
that looked across the quiet square.

"Those are not our reasons, anyhow," she said, after a moment, with her
back to the cynic in the chair.

He turned his head at her words and smiled, a mischievous boyish smile
that proclaimed their relationship on the instant.

"Ye gods!" he ejaculated. "Is it possible that you're in love with him?"

Chris was silent. She seemed to be watching something in the road below
her with absorbing interest.

"You needn't trouble to keep your back turned," gibed the brotherly voice
behind her. "I can see you are the colour of beetroot even at this
distance. Curious, very! But I'm glad you are so becomingly modest. It's
the first indication of the virtue that I have ever detected in you."

"You beast!" said Chris.

She whirled suddenly round, half-laughing, half-resentful, seized a book
from a table near, and hurled it with accurate aim at her brother's head.

He flung up a dexterous hand and caught it just as the door opened
to admit Mordaunt, who had been asked to dine to meet his future
brother-in-law.