"Why? There are a million perfectly good reasons."
"Give me one, Lillian."
She stood considering, her crook'd finger under her chin, blue eyes taking his measure from time to time. Evidently happiness too long deferred had made him unmanageable. She never thought of doubting her power. Probably he needed discipline. It was most annoying to be annoyed at such a time, with all these men here, and Scott Wallace already left too long alone with Diana at the billiard table. Discipline was certainly what Inwood needed.
"Billy," she said, "come in and play bottle pool."
"Am I to tell them that we are to be married?"
"No," she said petulantly.
"When may I tell them?"
"Not at all. Do you think a year of liberty is sufficient for a woman who has suffered what I have? I don't wish to marry you or anybody—yet. I haven't made up my mind to do it at all," she added with a tiny flash of rare anger, for her not very sensitive nerves were beginning to feel the pressure.
"Lillian, I want to know now. It is only square to me to——"
"Billy, if you continue to insist, you will end by seriously offending me. You have annoyed me enough already."