"But—"
"I've guests," she said, placing a hand flat on her escort's chest.
"But—"
"My guests mean trouble," she finished, shoving. Her escort disappeared—walking backward and still trying to protest.
Gloria closed the living room door with a gesture of finality, then turned to lean back against it. She faced her unexpected guests with an air of exasperated patience, as if by her silence she was inviting them to hurl the first bolt and by her attitude confident that she could turn it aside with ease.
She did not have long to wait.
They all started to talk at once. The resulting babble was unintelligible and the sound of the others' voices made each one of them stop without finishing. Silence fell again, and in the calm, Scholar Ross spoke up:
"Under the circumstances, Miss Hanford, I think we have the right to ask that you explain your actions."
Mr. Harrison grunted. "I say this is a waste of time. Let's get along with it."
Mrs. Harrison added, "Yes indeed, Scholar Ross. If you'll call the authorities, we'll sign the complaint."