Agatha was not quite on her guard, and Mrs. Harrington’s cold grey eyes were alert. It had once been this lady’s intention to use Agatha as a means of subjecting Luke to her own capricious will - Agatha being the alternative means where money had failed. She had almost forgotten this when Luke came into the room with eyes only for Agatha--and the girl was looking at Fitz.
“I suppose, Agatha,” said Mrs. Harrington, “you will not be at a loss for partners to-night? You will know plenty of dancing men?”
“Oh, I suppose so,” replied Agatha indifferently. She turned over her newspaper and retreated, as it were, behind her first line of defence--the sure line of audacious silence.
“The usual throng?”
“The usual throng,” answered Agatha imperturbably.
Luke was biting his nails impatiently. His jealousy was patent to any woman. Fitz was talking to Mrs. Ingham-Baker.
“I should advise you young men to secure your dances now,” continued Mrs. Harrington, with her usual fatal persistence. “Once Agatha gets into the room she will be snapped up.”
Fitz turned round with his good-natured smile--the smile that indicates a polite attention to an indifferent conversation--and Mrs. Ingham-Baker was free to thrust in her awkward oar. She splashed in.
“Oh, I am sure she will not let herself be snapped up to-night; will you, dear?”
“That, no doubt, depends upon the snapper,” put in Mrs. Harrington, looking--perhaps by accident--at Fitz. “Fitz,” she went on, “come here and tell me all about your new ship. I hope you are proud--I am. I am often laughed at for a garrulous old woman when I begin talking of you!”