"Sure it didn't," he laughed. "That was the way to play it."
"What do you mean?" cried the girl indignantly. "I wasn't 'playing' anything or anybody."
Paying no heed to the frantic signs which Fanny was making for him to keep silent, the shipping clerk went on:
"Why not? It's all in the game."
Ignoring him, Virginia continued:
"He finally asked me to dine with him here and to bring you and Jim. I had told him about your being engaged."
The young man nodded approvingly. With a patronizing air he said:
"I'm beginning to think this fellow Stafford's on the level. He might even want to marry you."
Virginia flushed scarlet. Confusedly she exclaimed:
"Don't be absurd!"