"Th' party you ast for says please t' step this way!"
XXXII
Between gratification and misgivings, Joan followed her guide in a flutter of emotion. When intending nothing more than to provide an excuse for using the anteroom as a temporary refuge, she hadn't for an instant questioned her right to use Marbridge's name. But now that it appeared she was to gain thereby the boon of an audience with Arlington, she was torn by doubts.
After all, her acquaintance with Marbridge had been one of the most tenuous description. True, the man had seemed attracted by her at the time; but that was many months ago; and only recently he had looked her fair in the face without knowing her. She had really gained her advantage through false pretences. And when Marbridge learned of this, would he not resent it? Had she not, through her presumption, put herself in the way of defeating her own ends?
She brought up before a closed door in a state of nervousness not natural with her.
"You're to wait a minute," her guide advised.
She was thankful he wasn't the guardian of the outer defences: just at present she was in no fit mood to bandy persiflage successfully.
But she was uncomfortably conscious that this present boy eyed her curiously as he threw open the office door.
She entered, and he closed it after her.