He flung her hand away, with casual fingers. His glance rent her unmercifully. “You are wasting your time!”
She crumbled as if struck by lightning. Tears of mortification rose to the lovely eyes. She stammered in utter rout, “You are a fiend!”
He rose from the piano and looked about him smilingly. “The end of a perfect day,” he remarked in a loud voice. He shook hands with Del Re and retreated towards Anne.
With meaning looks the group began to break up. Their guard of honor ranged about them, Ellen and Olive flitted away to the accompaniment of knowing smiles. An obscure and taciturn husband was claimed by the authoress and led triumphantly home.
The countess, a little pale, accepted the escort of Gerald and Caldenas.
Alexis waited flagrantly, while Del Re completed ceremonious adieus.
As the door closed upon them all, Anne turned towards Alexis with an inquiring, slightly apprehensive air. “Are you going to stay, Alexis? It is very late.”
For response he drew her to him in an abrupt convulsive gesture. Leading her to the sofa, he knelt and buried his head on her lap. She brushed the hair back from his forehead nervously. It was indiscreet of him to have remained after the others had gone. She had caught interchanged glances and knew that the worst interpretation would be made of the situation. As he remained motionless, she spoke a little wearily.
“What is the matter, dear? Why are you so excited to-night?”
He raised a bloodless face, and she saw that his eyes were swimming in tears.