Then quickly she threw the door open wide and called out: "Helen, here's Daren Lane home from the war, wearing the _Croix de Guerre_." Mrs.Wrapp pushed Lane forward, and stood there a moment in the sudden silence, then stepping back, she went out and closed the door.
Lane saw a large well-lighted room, with colorful bizarre decorations and a bare shiny floor.

The first person his glance encountered was a young girl, strikingly beautiful, facing him with red lips parted.

She had violet eyes that seemed to have a startled expression as they met Lane's.

Next Lane saw a slim young man standing close to this girl, in the act of withdrawing his arm from around her waist.

Apparently with his free hand he had either been lowering a smoking cigarette from her lips or had been raising it there.