"Julian can answer that question better than I can," answered Joad, with a chuckle at baffling her curiosity, and returned to his reading.
Dora, who knew that he revenged himself thus for the frown she had bestowed on him, strove to assuage his childish petulance.
"I think you might be civil, Mr. Joad," said she in an offended tone. "I have no friend but you."
"There is no question of friendship there," said Dora stiffly. "Allen Scott is my affianced husband."
"Ho, ho! Your affianced husband!" jeered Silenus, grinning. "Well, Miss Dora, while Dr. Scott holds that position, I am no friend to you."
"Why not?" asked Dora, nettled by the hinted menace in his tone.
"It's too long to explain; it's too early yet for plain speaking. But look you here, Miss Dora: a man is as old as he feels, not as he looks. I feel twenty-two--and at twenty-two"--he leant forward with a sly smile--"one falls in love."
"You are talking nonsense!" retorted Miss Carew, drawing back; "and your conversation is not to the point. I ask you why Mr. Pallant called to see my guardian."
"And I answer as I answered before," replied Joad, rendered sullen by the rebuff, "that you had better ask Julian. As I am not your friend, you can't ask me to tell you my secrets."
"I don't want to know your secrets, but those of Mr. Edermont."
"Then, speak to the right person," said Joad rudely. "I am not Julian."
After which speech he began reading again, utterly oblivious of the presence of the girl he admired. Dora made no reply, but went back to the house. At the door she was met by her guardian in a state of wild excitement. He ran out, shouting and holding out his hands. Behind him appeared the tall and well-dressed form of Mr. Pallant.
"Dora! Lambert!" shouted Edermont wildly. "Congratulate me! My nightmare is at an end! I am free! I am safe!"
Then he ran over to Joad, and talked to him with much gesticulation.
Thinking her guardian had suddenly gone out of his mind, Dora turned to Mr. Pallant for an explanation. He stared at her with undisguised admiration, and she resented it, as she had done that of Joad, with a frown.
"What is the matter with Mr. Edermont?" she asked abruptly.
"Why," said Mr. Pallant in a slow and sleepy voice, "I have brought him some good news."