“I have been wondering when he was going to appear on the scene. I always thought it was customary on these occasions for the young man to present himself in person, and not let the lady fight his battles for him. Is this Mr. Winfield a little deficient in nerve?”
Ruth flushed angrily.
“I particularly asked Kirk not to come here before I had seen you. I insisted on it. Naturally, he wanted to.”
“Of course!”
There was a sneer in his voice which he did not try to hide. It flicked Ruth like a whip. Her painfully preserved restraint broke up under it.
“Do you think Kirk is afraid of you, father?”
“It crossed my mind.”
“He is not.”
“I have only your word for it.”
“You can have his if you want it. There is the telephone. You can have him here in ten minutes if you want to see him.”