“Every one—unfortunately. You see Coley Van Duyn didn’t help matters any by telling about your kissing me on the stairs.”
“D——n him,” said Phil, through his teeth.
“Besides, I’ve been careless of their opinion for so long that people are only glad to get something tangible.”
“But it isn’t tangible. That farmer out there could——”
Nina raised her hand.
“Denial is confession, my dear. I shall deny nothing. I shall only smile. In my saddest moments the memory of Higgins and Harlow’s parlor heater with its nickel icicles around the top will restore my equanimity. I don’t think I’ve ever before really appreciated the true symbolism of the nickel icicle.”
Gallatin had risen and was pacing the floor before her.
“This gossip must be stopped,” he said scowling at the rug. “If I can’t stop it in one way, I can in another.”
“And drag my shattered fabric into the rumpus? No, thanks. J’y suis—j’y reste. The rôle of martyr becomes me. In my own eyes I’m already canonized. I think I like the sensation. It has the merit of being a novel one at any rate.”
“Nina, do stop talking nonsense,” he put in impatiently. “I’m not going to sit here placidly and let them tell this lie.”