Whattheywouldhavesaidisnotknown,foratthatmomentthevoicesofClementinaandMrs.Ramirezwereheardinthepassage,andtheybothenteredthegallery.Thetwomenwerestandingtogether;itwasimpossibletoseeonewithouttheother.
AndyetGrant,whoseeyeswereinstantlydirectedtoClementina,thoughtthatshehadnotedneither.Sheremainedforaninstantstandinginthedoorwayinthesameself-possessed,coldlygracefulposeherememberedshehadtakenontheplatformatTasajara.Hereyelidswereslightlydowncast,asifshehadbeenarrestedbysomesuddenthoughtorsomeshymaidensensitiveness;inherhesitationMrs.Ramirezpassedimpatientlybeforeher.
\"MotherofGod!\"saidthatlivelylady,regardingthetwospeechlessmen,\"isitanindiscretionwearemakinghere——orareyoudumb?You,DonDiego,areloudenoughwhenyouandDonJosearetogether;atleastintroduceyourfriend.\"
Grantquicklyrecoveredhimself.\"Iamafraid,\"hesaid,comingforward,\"unlessMissHarcourtdoes,thatIamameretrespasserinyourhouse,Senora.Isawherpassinyourcarriageafewmomentsago,andhavingamessageforherIventuredtofollowherhere.\"
\"ItisMr.Grant,afriendofmyfather\'s,\"saidClementina,smilingwithequanimity,asifjustawakeningfromamomentaryabstraction,yetapparentlyunconsciousofGrant\'simploringeyes;