The red deepened in
Mrs. Barker's cheek.
"This is my room!" she said indignantly, with a sweeping gesture around
the walls.
"I should judge so," said Mrs. Horncastle, following the gesture; "but,"
she added quietly, "they put ME into it. It appears, however, they did
not expect you."
Mrs. Barker saw her mistake. "No, no," she said apologetically, "of
course not." Then she added, with nervous volubility, sitting down and
tugging at her gloves, "You see, I just ran down from Marysville to take
a look at my father's old house on my way to Hymettus. I hope I haven't
disturbed you. Perhaps," she said, with sudden eagerness, "you were
asleep when I came in!"
"No," said Mrs. Horncastle, "I was not sleeping nor dreaming. I heard
you come in."
"Some of these men are such idiots," said Mrs. Barker, with a
half-hysterical laugh. "They seem to think if a woman accepts the least
courtesy from them they've a right to be familiar. But I fancy that
fellow was a little astonished when I shut the door in his face."
"I fancy he WAS," returned Mrs. Horncastle dryly. "But I shouldn't call
Mr. Van Loo an idiot. He has the reputation of being a cautious business
man."
Mrs. Barker bit her lip. Her companion had been recognized. She rose
with a slight flirt of her skirt. "I suppose I must go and get a room;
there was nobody in the office when I came. Everything is badly managed
here since my father took away the best servants to Hymettus.
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