'I cannot remain much longer away from my guests.'
'Your guests?'
'Yes; they are my guests in a way, the ball was given for me.'
'You can go to them; I can remain here I suppose. I can see you later on.'
Mildred did not answer, and, while Harold looked through the article, her face darkened, and she bit her lips twice. At last she said:
'We had better finish: I cannot remain away any longer from my guests, and I shall be engaged the rest of the evening. There's no use in your reading that article. You won't like it. You won't approve of it.'
'I certainly do not approve of it, and are all the articles you write under this title of the same character?'
'I can't see anything wrong in it. Of course you can read meanings into it that I don't intend if you like.'
'I am afraid that your articles must give people a very false idea of you.'
'Every one who knows me knows that I would not do anything wrong, that I am not that kind of woman. You need not be afraid, I shall not disgrace you.'