"Ah, it is done!" said Jeannie quickly, and half to herself. Then she rose too, and wrenched her hands from him.
"Have you gone mad?" she said. "Stand out of my way, please."
But she had not reckoned on the strength of the passion she had raised. For one moment he looked at her in blank astonishment, but he did not move. She could not get by him without violence. Then he advanced a step again towards her, as if he would have caught her to him. Jeannie put both her arms in front of her; she had turned pale to the lips.
"Not till you have told me——"
"I have nothing to tell you, except that I thought you were a gentleman and a friend. There is some one coming out of the billiard-room."
Daisy appeared in the doorway at the moment.
"The rubber's over already," she said, "just two hands. Won't you and Lord Lindfield——"
She stopped suddenly. It was clear he had not heard her, for, with arms still held out, he faced Jeannie, unconscious of any one but her.
"Jeannie——" he began again.
Jeannie did not look at him.