'
'But you said you wanted information.'
'What a funny reason to give! And how a man misses all the fine points of
a conversation! No; just because I asked for information, you might have
known that was not what I really wanted.'
'I'm afraid I'm very stupid. I hate to ask boldly what you did want, but
I would like to know.'
'I wanted a vote of confidence. I told you I was sorry because of a
certain episode. I wished to see if you trusted me, and I found you
didn't. There!'
'I think that was hardly a fair test. You see, the facts did not belong
to me alone.'
Miss Brewster sighed, and slowly shook her head.
'That wouldn't have made the least difference if you had really trusted
me.'
'Oh, I say! You couldn't expect a man to----'
'Yes I could.'
'What, merely a friend?'
Miss Brewster nodded.
'Well, all I can say,' remarked Wentworth, with a laugh, 'is that
friendship has made greater strides in the States than it has in
this country.'
Before Jennie could reply, the useful boy knocked at the door and brought
in a tea-tray, which he placed before his master; then silently departed,
closing the door noiselessly.
'May I offer you a cup of tea?'
'Please. What a curious custom this drinking of tea is in business
offices! I think I shall write an article on "A Nation of Tea-tipplers."
If I were an enemy of England, instead of being its greatest friend, I
would descend with my army on this country between the hours of four and
five in the afternoon, and so take the population unawares while it was
drinking tea.
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