Most of her friends had mothers to maneuver for them. Joyce had none, but she was not one to let that stand in her way. Already she had made her first move by asking Lord Farquhar in a whisper not to linger long over the cigars. He had nodded silently, and she knew he would keep his word. If Jack would only stay away until she could see Verinder....
She called the mine owner to her the instant that the men reappeared. He looked across the room sullenly and appeared for one dubious moment to hesitate. But before he could frame an excuse she had spoken again.
"I want you to see this ridiculous illustration. It is the most amusing...."
Without any hesitation she had summoned him before them all. He could not rudely refuse her the ordinary civilities that pass current in society. Sulkily he moved to her side.
She held up the book to him. No illustration met the eyes of the surprised man. Joyce was pointing to a sentence in the story heavily underscored by a pencil.
"Why are you so cruel to me?"
His chin dropped with amazement. Then slowly an angry flush rose to his face. His jaw set firmly as he looked at her.
"Yes, it's certainly ridiculous ... and amusing," he said aloud.
"There's another, too," she went on quickly, recovering the book.
Her fingers turned a page or two swiftly. On the margin was a penciled note.