Nevertheless, she had still great confidence in Van Loo's fear of scandal and his utter unmanliness.

She knew he was not in love with Mrs.Barker, and this puzzled her when she considered the evident risk he was running now.

Her face, however, betrayed nothing.
She drew back from Mrs.Barker, and, with an indifferent and graceful gesture towards the door, said, as she leaned against the mantel, "Go, then, and see this much-abused gentleman, and then go together with him and make peace with your husband--even on those terms.

If I have saved you from the consequences of your folly I shall be willing to bear even HIS blame." "Whatever I do," said Mrs.Barker, rising hotly, "I shall not stay here any longer to be insulted." She flounced out of the room and swept down the staircase into the office.

Here she found an overworked clerk, and with crimson cheeks and flashing eyes wanted to know why in her own father's hotel she had found her own sitting-room engaged, and had been obliged to wait half an hour before she could be shown into a decent apartment to remove her hat and cloak in; and how it was that even the gentleman who had kindly escorted her had evidently been unable to procure her any assistance.