"No, I do not care," she answered, steadily, yet her heart gave a great passionate throb of bitter anger.
Still holding her tightly by the hand he pulled open the door and sent his voice ringing loudly down the hall.
"Howard, Howard, come here!"
Xenie heard the distant door of the library unclose, then shut again, and a man's footsteps ringing along the marble hall.
She tried to wrench her hand away and flee, but it was useless. He held her as in a vise.
"Let me go," she panted, "my hair is down, my dress is disarranged, my face is disfigured, I do not wish to meet him."
But he held her tightly, gnashing his teeth in sudden rage at her efforts to escape.
At that moment Howard Templeton entered the room.
He started back as his gaze encountered Mrs. St. John's, then with a cold bow stood still, turning an inquiring glance upon his uncle's excited face.
"I want you to take a glass of wine with me, Howard," said his uncle in a cordial tone. "Xenie, my love, you will pour the wine for us."