"Oh, nothing at all—only it explains."
"What does it explain?"
"Your attitude. It is quite natural for a daughter of Andrew Brisbane to take sides against these people." He was not in a mood to be gallant, and his glance quelled the angry girl.
With flushed face and quivering lips she sprang to her feet. "I will not stay to be insulted," she said.
Curtis rose as she swept from the room, but checked his instinctive words of apology and returned to his seat in silence.
Mrs. Wilcox relieved the painful pause by saying, "Captain Curtis, you must not misjudge Elsie. She is a much better girl than she seems."
Lawson was troubled as he said, "She has lashed herself into a great rage over this affair, but as a matter of fact she don't care a hang for Sennett."
"I can't apologize for doing my duty," said Curtis, "even to Miss Brisbane."
"Certainly not," replied Lawson, though he was deeply hurt by Elsie's display of unreason.
As soon as he decently could, he followed her to her studio, where he found her lying in sullen dejection on the big divan. "Bee Bee, you are missing a good dinner," he began, gently.