“I say, Dick,” said Sam Norton thickly, “ain’t you going to introduce the lady?” He rose rather unsteadily and started toward Lola.
“You go to hell, Sam!” Dick pushed him away roughly. “Come, Miss Barnhelm, I am sure you will feel more at home in here.”
As he spoke he opened the door of the adjoining room and as she entered he turned so fiercely on the others that they lost at once any desire they may have had to satisfy their curiosity.
“You’d better keep away, all of you!” was all he said, but the look on his face warned them that he was in no mood to be trifled with, and as the door closed behind him they did not even laugh.
The room into which he had taken her was furnished as a library, and as Lola looked about her she noticed with keen pleasure the tasteful and expensive furnishings and the atmosphere of luxury. In reality, it was Dick’s favorite room, and reflected, as rooms sometimes will, the better side of his nature. It is worthy of remark that of all the noisy party outside, Mrs. Harlan alone had ever put her foot across this threshold, and Mrs. Harlan, no matter what her faults, at least had brains.
As Lola seated herself and looked around curiously, he stood expectantly in front of her, waiting for an explanation of her presence.
“Well, Lola,” he said at last, seeing that she made no effort to begin.
“Well?” She looked at him smilingly.
“It’s awful good of you to come here, of course, Lola, but I—I—don’t you think you had better tell me all about it?”
“There is very little to tell, Dick. They scolded me for being late; that started it, then John found out that I had been at the restaurant with you; a little later they found that silly diamond thing you gave me. One thing on top of another was a little too much for them. Things began to be very unpleasant, so I came away.”