Part 53 (1/2)
Amiria laughed. ”You see, these things can't be kept dark.”
”But it's all a yarn. I'm not engaged to anybody. Can't a man talk to a girl, without all Timber Town saying he is going to marry her?”
”I don't know. Don't you like her?”
”I think she's very pretty, but that doesn't necessarily mean I want to marry her.”
”Then you _don't_ like her?”
”I like her only as a friend.”
”Shall I tell her that?”
Jack thought for a moment. He had suddenly become rather suspicious of women-folk.
”It might hurt her feelings,” he said.
”If you don't speak the truth, she will think you mean to marry her.”
”Then, tell her I don't mean to do anything of the sort.”
Amiria laughed softly to herself. ”That leaves two,” she said.
”Leaves two? What do you mean?”
”There are three girls in love with you. Rahera was one--she is out of it. That leaves two.”
”This is the very d.i.c.kens! Who are the other two, pray?”
”Rose Summerhayes is one.”
Jack laughed. ”She is too discreet, too English, to give her love, except where she is certain it will be returned.”
”You can't tell: you don't know.” Amiria had reined in her horse beside Jack's. ”She is always talking about you. She talks about you in her sleep--I know: I have heard her.”
”No, no; you make a mistake. She's a great friend of mine, but that is all. Who's the other daring girl?”
”You know,” replied Amiria, with a pout.
”How am I to presume to think of such a thing?”
”You know quite well.”
”Upon my honour, I don't.”
”Does a girl ride with you, if she doesn't like you?”
”Depends upon the girl.”
”Would I trouble to meet you, if I didn't?”
”Then it's you? Upon my word! This is overwhelming.”