"
She stepped back quickly, flung the door open, and beheld Somers on the
threshold!
The astonishment, agitation, and above all, the awkward confusion of
this usually self-possessed and ready man, was so unlike him, and withal
so painful, that Grace hurried to put an end to it, and for an instant
forgot her own surprise at seeing him. She smiled assuringly, and
extended her hand.
"Grace--Miss Nevil--I beg your pardon--I didn't imagine"--he began with
a forced laugh. "I mean, of course--I cannot--but"--He stopped, and then
assuming a peculiar expression, said: "But what are YOU doing here?"
At any other moment the girl would have resented the tone, which was
as new to her as his previous agitation, but in her present
self-consciousness her situation seemed to require some explanation.
"I came here," she said, "to see Mr. Rushbrook on business. Your
business--OUR business," she added, with a charming smile, using for the
first time the pronoun that seemed to indicate their unity and interest,
and yet fully aware of a vague insincerity in doing so.
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