Without knowing what she was saying, she
stammered that she "was glad he connected her with his better
fortune," and began to move away. He noticed it with his sidelong
lids, and added, with a slight bitterness:--
"I don't think I should have intruded here again, but I thought you
had gone. But I--I--am afraid you have not seen the last of me.
It was the intention of my employer, Mr. Prince, to introduce me to
you and your mother. I suppose he considers it part of my duties
here. I must warn you that, if you are here when he returns, he
will insist upon it, and upon your meeting me with these ladies at
dinner."
"Perhaps so--he is my mother's friend," said Maruja; "but you have
the advantage of us--you can always take to the road, you know."
The smile with which she had intended to accompany this speech did
not come as readily in execution as it had in conception, and she
would have given worlds to have recalled her words. But he said,
"That's so," quietly, and turned away, as if to give her an
opportunity to escape. She moved hesitatingly towards the passage
and stopped. The sound of the returning voices gave her a sudden
courage.
"Mr.--"
"Guest," said the young man.
"If we do conclude to stay to dinner as Mr. Prince has said nothing
of introducing you to my sister, you must let ME have that
pleasure."
He lifted his eyes to hers with a sudden flush. But she had fled.
She reached her party, displaying her torn flounce as the cause of
her delay, and there was a slight quickness in her breathing and
her speech which was attributed to the same grave reason.
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