Clare was dragging at Farvel. "Blame me!" she cried. "I was older!
Blame me!"
Farvel pushed her aside. "Don't try to shield him!" he answered.
"He's a dog! A dog!"
A loud voice sounded from the hall. It was Tottie, storming virtuously. "I won't have it!" she cried. "This is my house, and I won't have it!"
Another voice pleaded with her—"Now wait! Please!"
"I'm goin' in there," asserted the landlady. She came pounding against the hall door, opened it, and entered, her bobbed hair lifting and falling with the rush of her coming. "Say! What do you call this, anyhow?" she demanded, shaking off the hand with which Sue was attempting to restrain her.
"Keep out of here," ordered Balcome, advancing upon her boldly.
She met him without flinching. "I won't have no knock-down and drag-out in my house!" she declared. "This is a respectable——"
"Oh, I'm used to tantrums," he retorted. And without more ado, he forced Miss St. Clair backward into the hall, followed her, and shut himself as well as her out of the room.
"I'll have you arrested for this!" she shrilled.
"Oh, shut up!"