During tea, though there was ample opportunity for private talk at the little table where they sat alone, Dare was careful to avoid any reference to the business which had moved him to seek her out. He exerted himself to entertain her; and for the time it seemed as though Blanche actually forgot her discontent in enjoyment of the moment. But when on paying the score Dare would have bought her a box of chocolates, to his surprise the girl with hasty ungraciousness declined the gift. She hated sweets, she said. His action in purchasing chocolates for her had reminded her of Arnott and the similar gifts he had showered on her in the past. The incident jarred upon her; and a return of her former reserve ensued. Already she regretted having accepted the invitation for this outing. It was not that she disliked the man, or that she mistrusted him; but she had a presentiment that he would urge her to tell him things which it might be against her own interests to disclose. She sought to reassure herself with the thought that he could not force her confidence. Nevertheless she experienced a doubt as to her powers of reticence; she had already allowed him against her better judgment to discover that she was to a certain extent acquainted with Arnott's doings. And she had confessed to some authority as to his actions. That positive affirmation of the line he would be likely to take had been an indiscretion. Dare was himself so quietly confident that the girl, having nothing to conceal, would aid him with any information which it lay in her power to give that he did not anticipate difficulty in persuading her to disclose her knowledge. He believed that she also would wish to have the scandal in which her name was concerned allayed finally. It could not be agreeable for her to know the opprobrious things that were being said of her in connection with the man. For her own sake she would wish that stopped. They re-entered the car and continued the journey. When they were well out into the country, Blanche said, turning to him suddenly: "Don't let us stop... What's the use? I don't want to walk; it's pleasanter driving. And I must not be late in getting back." "I will see that you are back in ample time," he answered. "But I want you to get out here. You needn't walk far. I'll tell the man to wait for us at the bottom of this hill." He spoke to the chauffeur, and the car stopped. Dare got out and helped the girl to alight. She looked at him with faint resentment in her eyes, as they remained standing together beside the road while the car drove swiftly away. "I asked you not to," she said protestingly. "I know," he said. "Forgive me for disregarding the request. I wanted to talk with you more privately. Plainly we couldn't discuss this matter before a third person."