Oh, did he!
"So you go on in there and loosen up—have a good time—and make her have one; and keep it up this afternoon. I'm so anxious for you to find something to interest and occupy you—" His glance dropped an instant to the papers and law books as though wishing he had something better with which to occupy himself. "Besides," he added carelessly, "Francis won't be here to see what you do—gone off with Scoggins up somewhere in the hills—big dog-fight up there and Francis took four curs, Scoggins two—they won't be back till night—so go ahead!"
But I had caught the back of a chair.
"Dog-fight?" I said faintly. "Frances up in the hills—and—and with Scoggins?" And she had only left me a half-hour ago!
"Why, certainly!" he said wearily, almost testily. "What of it? I tell you you've got to get your ideas all readjusted about Francis. What's the matter with the dog-fight?"
"So—so surprised," I faltered; "so unexpected, you know!"
"Poof!"—and he pushed me out through the doorway—"I never face anything unexpected in that quarter!"
But I think he would have, if he had followed me across into the dining-room and had faced, as I did—
Frances!
"So glad you didn't go to the dog-fight!" I said presently, beaming across at her delightedly.