"If you are not too busy, can you spare Miss Briggs and me a few moments?
We have something of grave importance to say to you." "Please make your business as brief as possible," snapped Kathleen, holding the door as though ready to close it in their faces the instant they stated their errand.
"Thank you," said Grace with unruffled calm.

"We had better step inside your room, for a moment, at least.

The hall is hardly the place for what I have to say." The newspaper girl darted a swift, appraising glance at Grace.

Her shrewd eyes fell before the steady light of Grace's gray ones.

"Come in," she said shortly, then in a sarcastic tone, "Shall I close the door ?" "It would be better, I think," returned Grace in quietly significant tones.
The color flooded Kathleen West's sallow face.