Follow a Stranger

when she was seventeen.”

“You are Marie-Louise’s brother, though, aren’t you?”

she asked, puzzled. She had been sure Marie-Louise was

older than him.

“I am her half-brother,” he said. “My mother was

Greek, a Lillitos. Her mother was French. Marie-Louise

is five years older than me.”

“Oh.” Kate considered the information for a moment,

then went back to Pallas. “Does Pallas know you love

her?”

“She knows I wish to marry her,” he said quietly. “I

have not, of course, approached her alone. It would not

be fitting.”

Kate almost reeled with hilarious incredulity. “I can’t

believe it!” she exclaimed. “You talk like a Victorian

novel!”

He flushed. “You are laughing at me,” he said.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help it. No wonder Pallas was

so awkward when you arrived!”

He was silent for a moment. Then he said, ?

?You think

she does not like me? Finds me unattractive?”

She looked at him, embarrassed, and saw the hurt

look in his brown eyes., “Look,” she said frankly, “Pallas

is a modern girl. She doesn’t want to be married off like

a prize cow. She wants to ...” she gestured vaguely, “live

her own life.”

“And I am not part of the life she wants?” he asked

quietly.

“How do I know? How does she know, when she’s