Something in the cold decision of the tone opened Anita's eyes. She looked at Dodo with a new vision, with a flare-up of that fierce caste antagonism which Dodo once had felt so brutally, face to face with Mrs. Massingale.
"Dear me, as late as that!" she said, glancing at a wrist watch with extra nonchalance. "I must be rushing. So glad though to have had this glimpse." She shook hands airily. "You look quite shaken down, dear—quite matronly. I should never have thought it. Good-by. My love to poor old Garry."
She went out languidly, her head in the air. Miss Pim remained, shuffling from foot to foot, awed and embarrassed, wondering how to exit with dignity.
Dodo, quite at her ease and determined, came to her aid.
"My dear Miss Pim, there are certain things I must talk over with Snyder. If you will wait for me—down-stairs, I'll drop in as I go out—since I was always your favorite!"
"Down-stairs?" said Miss Pim, absolutely dazed by this easy air of patronage.
"Yes, that's it."
"Oh, down-stairs?" she repeated, open-mouthed.
She turned, gazed at Snyder, bumped against the table and sidled out of the room, staring at Dodo in consternation.
Snyder who had been silently enjoying the scene stepped forward, folding her arms abruptly.