"The United States!" sneered Koltsoff.
The next instant he was on his knees, his lips on the lace of her skirt.
"Please, Prince Koltsoff! Don't, please."
She glanced aside and saw the expansive white chest of Armitage bearing up the slight incline. "And now you must excuse me," she said, "my partner for the next dance claims me." She snatched away her skirt and walked rapidly to meet Jack, while Koltsoff gathered himself to his feet and cursed volubly in three languages.
Anne was silent as they walked to the house, but cheerfully so. While Jack could not exactly catch her expression in the moonlight, he had a feeling she was glad to be with him.
"Do you want to back out?" he asked. "It is n't too late, you know. Have you thought of the scandal?"
"Do you wish me to back out?" she smiled. "Have you thought you may lose your position?"
"I don't care—for you can consider that I have given notice to take effect to-morrow."
"But that does not mean—" she began, then checked herself.
He waited for her to continue, but she was silent. As they ascended the steps the orchestra was beginning the waltz, with its dreamy rhythm, which everybody had been humming for a month or two. She led the way through a door at the lower end of the room, where were the palms and shrubbery which concealed the musicians, gathered her gown in her right hand, and stood smilingly expectant. Her cheeks were deeply flushed, her eyes sparkled, her perfectly cut lips slightly parted. For an instant his eyes rested upon her face and they glowed with open admiration. Then his arm had encircled her firm, lithe waist and they whirled leisurely out upon the crowded floor.