“I want you to leave me alone.” He looked up at her, smiling faintly. “I hope it’s not asking too much, but I’d really be grateful if you’d leave me alone.”
“I can’t do that,” she said. “I’m much too fond of you.”
“That’s awfully sweet,” Channing said. He looked at Kerrigan. “Don’t you think that’s sweet? Wouldn’t you say I’m fortunate to have such a nice sister?”
Kerrigan was silent.
He heard her saying, “You’re not polite, Newton. You ought to introduce your friend.”
“By all means,” Channing said. Then, to no one in particular, “Please forgive my bad manners.” He half stood, and waited for Kerrigan to stand. But Kerrigan sat there. Channing shrugged, lowered himself to the seat, and poured more whisky into the glass. Then he went to work on the whisky.
“I’m still waiting,” she said. “I’m waiting for the introduction.”
“Oh, the hell with it.” Channing took a big gulp of whisky. “As a matter of fact, the hell with everything.”
She looked at Kerrigan. She said, “I’m sorry. He doesn’t really mean that. It’s just that he’s drunk.”
“It’s all right.”