As she studied him, his eyes met hers, and he surprised her by a quick smile of understanding.
"Oh, Contrary Mary," he murmured, so that the rest could not hear, "what do you think of me?"
She found herself blushing, "Porter."
"You were weighing me in the balance? Red head against my lovely disposition?"
Before she could answer, he had turned back to Aunt Isabelle, leaving Mary with her cheeks hot.
After supper, the young host insisted that Leila and the General should go home in his limousine with Barry and Aunt Isabelle.
"Mary and I will follow in a taxi," he said in the face of their protests.
"Young man," demanded the twinkling General, "if I accept, will you look upon me in the light of an incumbrance or a benefactor?"
"A benefactor, sir," said Porter, promptly, and that settled it.
"And now," said Porter, as, having seen the rest of the party off, he took his seat beside the slim figure in the green velvet wrap, "now I am going to have it out with you."