"Dr. Scott described him to me," she said curtly. "Why has he called?"
"Julian can answer that question better than I can," answered Joad, with a chuckle at baffling her curiosity, and returned to his reading.
Dora, who knew that he revenged himself thus for the frown she had bestowed on him, strove to assuage his childish petulance.
"I think you might be civil, Mr. Joad," said she in an offended tone. "I have no friend but you."
"What about Allen Scott?"
"There is no question of friendship there," said Dora stiffly. "Allen Scott is my affianced husband."
"Ho, ho! Your affianced husband!" jeered Silenus, grinning. "Well, Miss Dora, while Dr. Scott holds that position, I am no friend to you."
"Why not?" asked Dora, nettled by the hinted menace in his tone.
"It's too long to explain; it's too early yet for plain speaking. But look you here, Miss Dora: a man is as old as he feels, not as he looks. I feel twenty-two--and at twenty-two"--he leant forward with a sly smile--"one falls in love."
"You are talking nonsense!" retorted Miss Carew, drawing back; "and your conversation is not to the point. I ask you why Mr. Pallant called to see my guardian."