"For what?" she asked.
"For you."
"You give yourself unnecessary trouble, sir."
"I give myself a pleasure."
She stepped by him, and proceeded on her way.
He followed, through the drawing-room, and the room beyond, and out to the rear piazza. Here, he sprang forward, and offered her his arm.
"I thank you," she scorned; "I do not need your assistance."
At the second step, the high heel of her slipper caught, she stumbled, and would have fallen, had not Parkington interposed.
He held her a moment, then released her.