Tableau! Ten Eyck, seeing it, muttered, gloatingly:
"Some folks gits ketched."
Alice turned eyes of reproach upon him:
"She'll kill us if she finds us together. Isn't there some other way out?"
"I could go down the stairs the waiters come up," said Stowe; "but how will you get home?"
"Oh, Mother will get me home all right, never fear!" said Alice. "Run for your life, honey. I'll have my maid call you on the 'phone later."
The young man gave her one long sad look fairly reeking with desperate kisses and embraces. Then he vanished into the crowd.
Alice must have remarked the comments in Forbes' eyes, for she turned to him:
"You mustn't misunderstand the poor boy, Mr. Forbes. Mr. Webb is as brave as a lion, but he runs away on my account. He knows that my mother will give me no rest if she finds it out."
"I understand perfectly," said Forbes. "There are times when the better a soldier is the faster he runs!"