The dentist was at work, but he glanced up when she entered and sent her a loverlike look over his patient's head. No creature with eyes and a reasoning brain could have misread it, and the occupant of the chair, who had both, squirmed to view its object; but Paul threw in a strategic "Wider, please," and held the unwilling head firmly to the front.
"Chuck them anywhere, Jean," he directed, his glance dropping to her hand.
Her obedience was literal; the next instant the letters strewed the rug at his feet. With the enunciation of the name, the patient twisted suddenly from Paul's grasp, and Jean found herself staring full into the malignant eyes of Stella Wilkes.
Paul first found voice.
"We'll go on, Miss Wilkes," he said, his gaze still intent upon the tragic mask, which was Jean.
Stella waved him aside.
"Hold your horses, Doc," she rejoined coolly. "I've met an old friend."
"Do you know each other?" It was to Jean he put the question.