He seemed struck. "You know it?"
"She told Jean."
Dennis stared. "I think not."
"Jean didn't speak of it to you?"
"Not a word."
"She spoke of it to Paul," said Mrs. Beever. Then, to be more specific: "Something highly remarkable. I mean your engagement."
Dennis was mute; but at last, in the gathered gloom, his voice was stranger than his silence. "My engagement?"
"Didn't you, on the spot, induce her to renew it?"
Again, for some time, he was dumb. "Has she said so? " he then asked.
"To every one."
Once more he waited. "I should like to see her."
"Here she is."
The door from the hall had opened as he spoke: Rose Armiger stood there. She addressed him straight and as if she had not seen Mrs. Beever. "I knew you'd be here—I must see you."
Mrs. Beever passed quickly to the side of the
