Then, to cap the climax, he proclaimed in a voice charged with
emotion that Madame Careni-Amori never had sung better in all her
life! This to an artist who had the rare faculty for knowing when
she was off the key,--and who knew that she was very badly off on
this particular occasion.
Percival was standing near the door as Ruth Clinton and her aunt
left the saloon on the way to their rooms. He joined them after
a moment's hesitation. The two ladies bowed coldly to him. He was
the essence of decision. As usual, he went straight to the point.
"I can't take back what I did this morning, and I wouldn't if I
could," he said, falling in beside Mrs. Spofford. "I know you are
displeased with me. Can't we thresh it out now, Mrs. Spofford?"
The elder woman raised her chin and stared at him coldly. He shot
a glance past her at the girl's face. There was no encouragement
to be found in the calm, unsmiling eyes.
"I fail to see precisely why we should thresh anything out with
you, Mr. Percival," replied Mrs. Spofford.
"It is barely possible that you are not quite clear as to my motives,
and therefore unable to gauge my actions."
"I understand your motives perfectly,--and I approve of them.
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