'Helen?' she repeated after him.
'Oh, I beg your pardon, Miss Helen, or Miss Longstreet, or Your
Ladyship. That Helen just slipped out.'
'So I noticed. Is it a little habit of yours calling girls by their first names when——'
'I don't know any girls,' he cut in vigorously.
She lifted her brows at him.
'How about Sanchia Murray? Isn't she——'
'Damn Sanchia Murray,' he said savagely.
'I'm talking about you! You and me.'
Helen gasped. Either his oath shocked her or she gave a very excellent imitation of a maiden thunder-stricken by such language as she had never dreamed a man could employ. Certainly not a man who had the slightest claim to the title of a gentleman.
'I beg your pardon again,' muttered Howard. 'That's twice. And now tell me, will you, what I've done?'