So Ralph Oliver slunk from the room into his inner office, and locked the door. The keen ears of Mrs. Dunlap heard the grate of the key.
Yet before he had fairly turned away from them, the room was thrilled with a clear voice:
"We really ought all to go at once. Nelson and I have been planning to see Grant's Tomb and the Museum. Will you take me there now, Nelson?"
It was Marguerite, the old sweet challenge of her friendly voice startling him into life once more. It was more than an appeal. It was as if she went back ten years to their childhood days when they had planned to see all the wonders of the world together. It had been a long time since she had appealed to him for anything, and his heart leaped high with joy. Take her to the Museum? Yes, take her to the world's end if she chose!
He took two good steps and was beside her, drawing her arm within his, and so together they acknowledged the introduction to a scoundrel's lovely wife and daughters, with which Mrs. Dunlap noisily and skillfully covered the retreat of the enemy, the victory completely in her own hands. There was even a lilt in her voice as she told Mrs. Oliver what a dear woman Mrs. Sheldon was; although her heart was aching with mother love as she saw the brave white anguish which the victim was showing as she held up her head and stood her ground, her knees were shaking under her.
Mrs. Sheldon took the hand of the other mother, and said with a warmth of feeling strangely keen for a mere acquaintance.
"I have wanted to meet you. I have heard such beautiful things about you, and now I see that they are all justified."
Nelson Whitney saw that the little gloved hand on his arm was fluttering as if in ague, and tenderly he laid a strong hand possessively over it, and took the burden of the conversation as the introduction came their way, leaving nothing for his dear girl to do but try to smile.
That she did it bravely and well, and that the strangers did not suspect her state of mind was shown by the comments of Gloria later, when, the telegrams all sent, the letters dictated, and the checks signed, they started in the new car on their delayed holiday, several hours late by the new watch flashing on Mrs. Oliver's beautiful wrist.
"Wasn't that girl perfectly darling!" she said to her sister. "She has a face like Muth's cameo pin, and the way she looked at her sweetheart was just too dear!"