Well knowing that anything in the nature of a pre-arranged code would be gall and wormwood to Siddle, she explained laughingly: "Mr.Grant signals that he and Mr.Hart are going for a walk; he wants me to accompany them.

But I can't, unfortunately.

I promised dad to help with the accounts." "If you really mean what you say, my warning would seem to have fallen on deaf ears." Siddle's voice was well under control, but his eyes glinted dangerously.
His state was that of a man torn by passion who nevertheless felt that any display of the rage possessing him would be fatal to his cause.
But, rather unexpectedly, Doris took fire.

Siddle's innuendoes and protestations were sufficiently hard to bear without the added knowledge that a ridiculous convention denied her the companionship of a man whom she loved, and who, she was beginning to believe, loved her.

She swept round on Siddle like a wrathful goddess.
"I have borne with you patiently because of the acquaintance of years, but I shall be glad if this tittle-tattle of malice and ignorance now ceases," she said proudly.