Take it back, sir--NOW!--and then make an humble apology to Miss Seymour.
"I'll take back nothing! I've been cheated out of a dance.

Here--take her--and take this with her!" and he tore Kate's card in half and threw the pieces in his host's face.
With the spring of a cat, Harry lunged forward and raised his arm as if to strike Willits in the face: Willits drew himself up to his full height and confronted him: Kate shrivelled within herself, all the color gone from her cheeks.

Whether to call out for help or withdraw quietly, was what puzzled her.

Both would concentrate the attention of the whole room on the dispute.
St.George, who was boiling with indignation and disgust, but still cool and himself, pushed his way into the middle of the group.
"Not a word, Harry," he whispered in low, frigid tones.

"This can be settled in another way." Then in his kindest voice, so loud that all could hear--"Teackle, will you and Mr.Willits please meet me in the colonel's den--that, perhaps, is the best place after all to straighten out these tangles.