It was at this moment that Hester, hastening on her search for Betty Thompson, appeared at the turn of the path and found herself face to face with Anton.
"Ah! Little one!" he exclaimed, rising and going forward smilingly to meet her. "So you thought you'd show up after all!"
Hester made no effort to hide her annoyance.
"I didn't come here to see you. I had forgotten all about you," she said coldly.
"Don't say so," he sneered. "Pretty poor memory you've got, kid. Better take something for it."
She noticed a change in this man. Before this, with all his slangy, bantering ways, Anton had always been a suppliant for her favor, eager to please and ready to obey, but now she recognized in his tone a certain swaggering assurance, as if he felt himself master of the situation.
"He's trying to bluff me," she thought. Then aloud "You'll have to excuse me. I'm in a hurry," and she started on.
"Oh, I don't know," he laughed. "Perhaps you can give me a little time—say an hour or two."
She flashed a scornful look at him.
"If you wait until I spend an hour with you you'll wait a long time, Mr. Anton."