'Oh!—Horace,' she laughed. 'What's the trouble? Did Marian leave anything behind?'
'No. I was just absolutely fed up; and when she told me you were here alone, I thought I'd jolly well come down and talk to you.'
'Good! Come in. You mustn't stay long, though. Please don't notice this horrible mess.'
In sheer pleasure at the breaking of the solitude, her vivacity made her eyes sparkle with life. Her sentences were crisp and rapid, and as she led the young officer to a seat by the fire it would have been difficult for Elise herself to think that a few minutes before she had been helplessly and lonesomely on the brink of tears.
'How is the dance going on up the street?' she asked, as Maynard inserted a cigarette between his lips without lighting it.
'It's a poisonous affair.'
'Poor boy!'
'I'm fed up, Elise. I'm—I'm gorged. When I heard you were down here, I said, "By George! I'll go and see her. I can talk to Elise. She's got some sense."'
'What a thing to say about a woman!'
'Don't chaff me, Elise. I can't stand it. I'm frightfully upset—really.'