“Certainly I will,” cried Billy, springing up with alacrity, and was at the door before Holland’s warning shout “McVay” stopped him.
“Let me take it up for your sister,” he said warningly.
“Oh, not at all. Let me,” replied McVay courteously.
“Couldn’t hear of it,” returned Geoffrey.
By this time they were both outside of the door, and Geoffrey closed it with a snap.
“You would, would you?” he said angrily.
“Now, Holland,” said McVay as one who intends to introduce reason into an irrational confusion, “this is exactly a case in point. I am by nature a gallant man. I forgot all about your instructions.”
“I wonder?” said Geoffrey.
“It was instinctive to do my sister the little favour she asked. Yes, and I doubt if I should have acted differently if your pistol had been at my head. She asked me. That was enough.”
“I’ve warned you once.”