THE SACRED FOUNT
tone. "Of course if you've no idea, I can get nothing."
"No idea of what?"
Then it was that I at last got it straight. "Well, of what's the matter with her."
"Is there anything particular? If there is," I went on, "there's something that I've got out of you!"
"How so, if you don't know what it is?"
"Do you mean if you yourself don't?" But without detaining him on this, "Of what in especial do the signs," I asked, "consist?"
"Well, of everyone's thinking so—that there's something or other."
This again struck me, but it struck me too much. "Oh, everyone's a fool!"
He saw, in his queer wan way, how it had done so. "Then you have your own idea?"
I daresay my smile at him, while I waited, showed a discomfort. "Do you mean people are talking about her?"
But he waited himself. "Haven't they shown you———?"
"No, no one has spoken. Moreover I wouldn't have let them."
"Then there you are!" Brissenden exclaimed. "If you've kept them off, it must be because you differ with them."
"I shan't be sure of that," I returned, "till I
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