" She
moved with affected carelessness towards the door, when Mrs. Horncastle,
without rising from her seat, said:--
"Why not stay here?"
Mrs. Barker brightened for a moment. "Oh," she said, with polite
deprecation, "I couldn't think of turning you out."
"I don't intend you shall," said Mrs. Horncastle. "We will stay here
together until you go with me to Hymettus, or until Mr. Van Loo leaves
the hotel. He will hardly attempt to come in here again if I remain."
Mrs. Barker, with a half-laugh, sat down irresolutely. Mrs. Horncastle
gazed at her curiously; she was evidently a novice in this sort of
thing. But, strange to say,--and I leave the ethics of this for the sex
to settle,--the fact did not soften Mrs. Horncastle's heart, nor in the
least qualify her attitude towards the younger woman. After an
awkward pause Mrs. Barker rose again. "Well, it's very good of you,
and--and---I'll just run out and wash my hands and get the dust off me,
and come back."
"No, Mrs. Barker," said Mrs. Horncastle, rising and approaching her,
"you will first wash your hands of this Mr. Van Loo, and get some of the
dust of the rendezvous off you before you do anything else. You CAN do
it by simply telling him, SHOULD YOU MEET HIM IN THE HALL, that I was
sitting here when he came in, and heard EVERYTHING! Depend upon it, he
won't trouble you again."
But Mrs. Barker, though inexperienced in love, was a good fighter.
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