"No, thanks," he returned coolly, and continued toward the door.
It was his first exhibition of insubordination, and Lillian Wemyss, surprised, did not propose to stand it, particularly in the presence of these two people. Scott Wallace seemed to be almost ready for his leash; it was a bad example for him, this insubordination of young Inwood.
She looked anxiously at Diana.
"I'm afraid Billy Inwood is not well," she said. "I've thought so for several days. Those swamps where you men shoot must be full of malaria."
"Not a bit," said Wallace, laughing.
"How do you know?" asked Diana. "You never go into them, you lazy thing!"
Mrs. Wemyss hesitated, listening to the banter that passed between Diana and Scott Wallace, which slightly excluded her for the moment.
Then she made up her mind that her authority over Inwood must be asserted at once, and that she had time enough to eliminate Diana later.
She turned and saw Inwood passing the windows outside on the terrace. The next moment she was on the terrace, too, and he turned slowly to confront her.
"Billy," she said gently, "are you feeling perfectly well?"