vi
While Patricia ignored the outcome of her remark, Edgar was not unaware of it. He had felt the electric silence which followed the speech, had seen Blanche's glitter, and had not been unprepared for the look of slow and comfortable malicious enjoyment which crossed Monty's face. To Edgar the truth was apparent. There was danger in the air. Dalrymple was not the only possible danger. Nor Harry Greenlees. Edgar was quietly alarmed. There was always danger; but in Patricia's case it was acute. She had done herself no good by that instant's admission of the power to hurt. She had roused Blanche's animosity, and had heightened Monty's interest in herself. With what assurance he could master, Edgar withdrew her from the general circle and demanded her personal interest.
"I have a sister rather younger than you," he said. "I should like you to meet her."
Patricia turned to him, her darkening obliterated.
"Is she very nice? And pretty?" she begged.
"Both," asserted Edgar. "She's very spirited, and slangy, and good-tempered. She's a great tease. And she's clever."
"And alarming!" cried Patricia, ruefully.
"Then I've been unjust to her. She's alarming, because she's unexpected. But I think you'd like her."
"Would she like me?" The question was not all coquettish.
Edgar smiled; and thereby caused Patricia to smile in return.
"I should like you to meet her," he said.
He was not wholly absorbed, even now, in Patricia. He could see Mrs. Quellan, growing slightly plump, but struggling against middle-age and natural gracelessness with all the energy of those whose youth has been lost in work and anxiety. He could see her husband, thin-haired, pale, and elaborately cheerful over suppressed care. He could see Blanche, so obviously what she was at that table, aged beyond her years, her spirit tired and malignant. And Monty, full of well-being and will and calculation, relentless and immovable in his design. The one fresh and unwarped spirit was Patricia. She was youth incarnate. She had vitality denied to all the others. And she was helpless through inexperience. She was over-confident, warm-hearted, blind.
Edgar shrugged slightly. He also was not without will.
"Yes," he said, quietly. "You must certainly meet Claudia."