What could it mean?
Was he merely seeking a quarrel?
or was there something else concealed behind this request?
In either case I knew not how to act, and yet felt no inclination to avoid the meeting.

Studying over the situation I pushed my way through the crowd across the floor of the ball-room.

There were a few people still lingering on the stairs, but, except for the servants, the parlors below were deserted.

I walked the length of one of the great rooms, and halted in front of a fireplace to await Grant's coming.

I was eager to have this affair settled, and be off.