“What is it, Caroline?” demanded Captain Elisha. “Has anything happened?”
The girl looked coldly at him. A new brooch—Mrs. Corcoran Dunn’s birthday gift—sparkled at her throat.
“No accident has happened, if that is what you mean,” she said.
“But—why, yes, that was what I meant. You was so awful late, and you know you said you’d be home for dinner, so—”
“I changed my mind. Come, Steve.”
She turned to leave the room. Pearson, at that moment, entered it. Stephen saw him first.
“What?” he cried. “Well, of all the nerve! Look, Caro!”
“Jim—Mr. Pearson, I mean—ran in a few minutes ago,” explained Captain Elisha, bewildered and stammering. “He thought of course we’d had dinner and—and—he just wanted to wish you many happy returns, Caroline.”
Pearson had extended his hand and a “Good evening” was on his lips. Stephen’s strange behavior and language caused him to halt. He flushed, awkward, surprised, and indignant.
Caroline turned and saw him. She started, and her cheeks also grew crimson. Then, recovering, she looked him full in the face, and deliberately and disdainfully turned her back.