“There’ll be a scandal over Patch and the fascinating Mrs. Harter one of these days,” said Martyn.
“She’s not fascinating,” Sallie asserted.
Her brother raised his eyebrows slightly, and she understood and laughed.
“Flat contradiction is rather uncivilized, I admit. And besides, she probably is fascinating, to some people.”
“She certainly is to Bill Patch.”
“I know. As a matter of fact, there’s more to it than that, I believe. I mean, he’s more than just attracted by her.”
“Really? You once said he was a temperamental romantic, I know. Are you trying to justify that now by building up a mountain out of a molehill?”
“I am not. Events are simply confirming my previous psychological deductions, that’s all,” said Sallie with bland dignity.
I was glad that Claire was not in the room. Like all egotists, she is driven nearly to frenzy by a display of egotism in anybody else.
“In all this,” said I, “there is one person who is never mentioned. What about Mr. Harter?”