He stopped short in his walk and stared at her.
"By Jove! you are cool!" he ejaculated. "Then what did you mean all the time?"
"What did you mean?" she asked defiantly.
He was silent. After a slight, uncomfortable pause, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
"Don't let us have a scene!" he observed in a bantering tone. "Anything but that!"
"Scene!" she exclaimed indignantly. "Pray when have you had to complain of me on that score?"
"Well, don't let me have to complain now," he said coolly.
She surveyed him in silent scorn for a moment, and her full, crimson lips curled contemptuously.
"What a brute you are!" she muttered suddenly between her set pearly teeth.
"Thanks, awfully!" he answered, taking out a cigarette and lighting it leisurely. "You are really charmingly candid, Clara! Almost as frank as Lady Errington, only less polite!"