Part 62 (2/2)

”Do you mean to say you dared decoy me here!” challenged Nan, all aflame. Her whole emotion was one of rage. It did not occur to her to be afraid of Ben Sansome, the conventional, the dilettante exquisite, without the gumption to say boo to a goose!

This Sansome answered her, the habit of society strong within him. He became deprecatory, pleading, almost apologetic. His manners were on top and his rather weak nature quailed before the blaze of her anger.

”I know it was inexcusable,” he babbled, ”but what could I do? I am mad about you! Do forgive me! Just sit down for a few moments. I don't blame you for being angry--any one is angry at being deceived--but do forgive me. If you'll only consider why I did it, you won't be angry.

That's right,” he ended soothingly, seeing that she neither spoke nor moved, ”Just sit right down here and be comfortable. It must be cold driving. Let me give you a gla.s.s of sherry.” He fussed about, shoving forward an armchair, arranging pillows, unstopping the decanter.

”You fool!” she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed in a low voice. She looked him all up and down, and turned to go.

The door was locked! For the first time she noticed that Mrs. Morrell had not followed her in. Her heart fluttered in sudden panic, which she subdued. She moved toward the other door.

The words, and especially the frustration of her intention, brought another mood to the surface of Sansome's intoxication. The polished society man with the habit of external unselfishness disappeared.

Another Sansome, whom Nan did not recognize, sprang to take his place.

”No, you don't!” he snarled. ”That door's locked, too. You don't get out of here until I choose to let you out!”

”You'll let me out; and you'll let me out right now, or I'll call for help,” said Nan determinedly.

Sansome deliberately seated himself, stretching his legs out straight before him, his hands in his pockets. This was the masterful role he had seen himself playing, and he instinctively took the att.i.tude approved by the best melodramatic masters.

”Call all you please,” he sneered. ”n.o.body's going to pay any attention to your calls at Jake's Place!”

Nan's heart went cold as she realized the complete truth of this. She was beginning to know fear. This was a new sort of creature before her, one with which she was acquainted only by instinct. She did not know what to do next, except that she saw surely that open opposition would only aggravate the situation.

”I must gain time!” she told herself, though to what end she could not have said.

Her pulses beat wildly, but she forced herself to a specious calmness.

”But Ben,” she said as naturally as she could, ”why did you do so foolish a thing as this? It might make all kinds of trouble. You can always see me at the house; you know that. Why did you get me out on this mad expedition? If we were to be seen here by anybody we would be deeply compromised.”

The words reminded her of Mrs. Morrell; but out of sheer terror she resolutely thrust that idea from her mind. At this appeal Sansome suddenly became maudlin.

”You've treated me like a dog lately--a yellow dog!” he mourned. ”What good did it do to go to your house and be treated like a yellow dog?”

Nan's faculties were beginning to rally after the first panic. Her heart was still thumping violently, but her eyes were bright, and her fighting courage was flowing back. For the first time his obvious condition registered on her brain.

”He's drunk!” she thought.

This discovery at first induced in her another, small panic. Then her courage boldly took it as a point of attack. The man was drunk and dangerous; very well, let us make him more drunk and less dangerous.

That was a desperate enough expedient, but at least it was definite.

She crossed deliberately to the other easy chair, and sat down.

”Well, let's sit down,” she agreed. ”No!” more decidedly, ”you sit there, on the other side. It's more cozy,” she continued, at just the right moment to get her effect on his instinct of good manners. ”Now, I will have that sherry. No, don't bother; it is next my hand. You must drink with me. Let me pour it for you--with my own hands--aren't you flattered?”

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