She was staring at him. "It is your doing, in fact!" He nodded.
Her breast heaved. "Insufferable!" The word burst from her. "My God, I could hit you!"
"Why, certainly, if you like, but I don't recommend you to do so in such a public place as this."
She wrenched herself out of his hold, and walked swiftly off the dancing floor. He followed her, and took her hand, and drawing it through his arm held it them firmly. "Calm yourself, Bab. If you want to quarrel with me you shall. I daresay Sir Charles would be pleased to lend us his morning-room for the purpose."
"You are right!" she said, in a low, furious voice. "This quarrel will not keep!"
He led her out of the ballroom and across the hall to a small parlour. There was no one in it, but the candles had been lit in the wall-sconces. The Colonel shut the door, and remained with his back to it, watching Barbara with a grave look in his eyes.
She went with long, hasty steps to the table in the centre of the room, and there faced him. When she spoke it was plain that she was making an effort to control her voice. "I desire to understand you. Did you think I had fallen in love with that youth?"
"Of course not. It was he who fell in love with you."
She made a contemptuous gesture. "An affair of great moment, that!"
"It was an affair of very great moment to him, and to his wife."