A curious little group had gathered over near the fireplace, but Judith was too angry to care who heard what she was saying. In the meantime, Lawrence Upton had taken his stand between Judith and Molly, feeling somehow that he might protect poor Molly from the onslaught. Presently he took her hand and drew it through his arm.
"Suppose we join the McLeans," he said. "I see they are having supper all together over there." As they turned to leave, he said to Judith in a cold, even voice that seemed to bring her back to her senses:
"I upset the coffee. Blanchard fell against me and joggled my arm. If there is any reparation I can make, I shall be glad to do it."
Whereupon, Judith departed to the dressing room and was not seen again until it was time to leave.
"What a tiger-cat she is!" whispered Lawrence to Molly, as he led her across the room.
Molly did not answer. She was afraid to trust her voice just then, and still more afraid of what she might say if she dared speak.
"What was all that rumpus over there?" demanded Judy when the young people had joined their friends.
"Oh, just a little volcanic activity on the part of Mount Ætna and a good deal of slinging of hot lava. Miss Molly and I are refugees from the eruption, and Mount Ætna has gone upstairs."
"You mean Miss Ætna Blount?" asked Judy.
"The same," said Lawrence.