"How do you do?" said Garrison, nodding somewhat distantly, since none of the Robinson group had particularly appealed to his tastes.
"How are you?" responded Dorothy's cousin, with no attempt to conceal an unfriendly demeanor. Crossing to Dorothy with deliberate intent to make the most of his relationship, he caught her by the arms.
"How's everything with you, little sweetheart?" he added in his way of easy intimacy. "What's the matter with my customary kiss?"
Dorothy, with every sign of fear or detestation upon her, seemed wholly unable to move. He put his arm roughly about her and kissed her twice.
Garrison, watching with feelings ill suppressed, beheld her shrink from the contact. She appeared to push her cousin off with small effort to disguise her loathing, and fled to Garrison as if certain of protection.
"What are you scared of?" said young Robinson, moving forward to catch her again, and laughing in an irritating way. "You used not to——"
Garrison blocked him promptly, subconsciously wondering where he had heard that laugh before.
"Perhaps that day has passed," he said quietly.
The visitor, still with his hat on, looked Garrison over with anger.
"Jealousy already, hey?" he said. "If you think I'll give up my rights as a cousin you're off, understand?"