"Your promise to me!"
"Don't be alarmed. He doesn't amount to much, if you'll pardon my saying so."
"I'm coming as quickly as I can. Don't see him, Richard. Remember Winchie!"
"Come if you like. But I suspect you'll only aggravate him. Believe me, I can take care of him. Here he is now——"
She dropped the receiver, ran out of the house and along the path.
XXIX
As Vaughan hung up the receiver and turned, Gallatin flung open the door on which he had just rapped a loud challenge. He scowled at Vaughan; Vaughan eyed him with the expression that simply looks and waits. It was evident Basil expected immediate combat, was ready for it—therefore altogether unready for the form of encounter less easy. Dick's tranquillity completely disconcerted him. He advanced a step, with an aggressive, "Well, here I am."
"So I see," replied Dick.
"You've been thinking it was cowardice that made me go away. But it wasn't. And I've come to face it out with you. You had your chance for her. You lost her. I purpose to keep her."
"Very well," said Dick. "She's free. Her affairs are none of my business." And he sat down at the long table under the windows, glanced at the electric furnace as if about to resume work.