"Oh!" she said sharply. Surprise, fear, chagrin, all were blended in the sound. Bobo at her heels said blankly: "I'll be jiggered!" Jack opened his eyes sleepily, blinked at the sight of them, and sprang up. "What's the matter!" he said. "Where am I? Oh--I must have fallen asleep. Please excuse me!" He flattered himself it was very well done. Bobo at least was completely taken in. As to the girl, he could not be sure. It was likely that being an accomplished dissimulator herself, she would on principle suspect him of dissimulation. But she gave away nothing in her face. "You're excusable," she said with a light laugh. "They told us you hadn't come. If you could have seen how funny you looked! Come on, let's have tea." Throughout that ceremony Jack labored with his most light-hearted air to remove any suspicions she might have that he had overheard her talk with Bobo. It was not easy to read that young lady's face, but he believed that he saw her gradually relax and be at ease again. The sequel to this scene took place later the same night. Jack, Bobo and Miriam went to the theater, and afterwards to the Alpine Heights to sup. Having arrived at the exquisite restaurant, Miriam announced that she had lost a pearl pin in the theater. Poor Bobo had to go back after it, though he had already ordered a _recherché_ little supper. Jack offered to go, but Miriam silenced him with a peculiar look, so he sat back and let things take their course. When they were alone together, Miriam softly said, turning the hazel eyes full on him: "Why can't we be friends, Jack?" He could have sworn the lovely orbs were big with tears, and in spite of himself his heart leaped; she was so beautiful! "Steady!" he whispered to himself. "It's probably onions or pepper!" "Aren't we friends?" he said with an air of surprise. She sadly shook her head. "You know we're not! You distrust me, dislike me; you cannot hide it!" "It's not so!" said Jack. "I've already explained what it is that you think is dislike. You put a man on the defensive. You've already gobbled up poor Bobo, skin and bones and hymn-book, too! I've got to be careful!" "Oh, you won't be serious!" she pouted. "And you saw how I lied to get the chance of speaking to you alone." "Then there wasn't any pearl pin?" "Of course not!" "Poor Bobo! I'll be serious. What is it?" "Oh, it's nothing special! I just wanted to see if I couldn't bring about a better understanding between you and me. It's awfully hard on Bobo, who is such friends with both of us--that you and I can't get on better I mean." "Let's have a better understanding!" said Jack heartily. Privately he was thinking: "Lovely lady, what are you driving at now?"