"I do," he answered, stepping forward as if to take her in his arms.
"Mr. Bagley!" she exclaimed, recoiling.
"A week ago," he persisted, "you called me Fitzroy. Once, in an outburst of confidence, you called me Fitz."
"You hadn't asked me to marry you then," she laughed mockingly. Then edging away towards the door she waved her hand at him playfully and said teasingly: "Good-bye, Mr. Bagley, I am going upstairs to Mrs. Ryder. I will await my father's return in her room. I think I shall be safer."
He ran forward to intercept her, but she was too quick for him. The door slammed in his face and she was gone.
Meantime Jefferson had proceeded upstairs, passing through long and luxuriously carpeted corridors with panelled frescoed walls, and hung with grand old tapestries and splendid paintings, until he came to his mother's room. He knocked.
"Come in!" called out the familiar voice. He entered. Mrs. Ryder was busy at her escritoire looking over a mass of household accounts.
"Hello, mother!" he cried, running up and hugging her in his boyish, impulsive way. Jefferson had always been devoted to his mother, and while he deplored her weakness in permitting herself to be so completely under the domination of his father, she had always found him an affectionate and loving son.
"Jefferson!" she exclaimed when he released her. "My dear boy, when did you arrive?"
"Only yesterday. I slept at the studio last night. You're looking bully, mother. How's father?"