"Ah, Judge Pike," she lifted her hand with gentle deprecation, "don't you understand that we can't quite arrange that? You see, Mr.Louden is even an older friend of mine than you are, and so Imust trust his advice about such things more than yours.Of course, if he too should think it better for me not to see him--"The Judge advanced toward her."I'm tired of this," he began, in a loud voice."I'm--"She moved as if to rise, but he had come very close, leaning above her, one arm out-stretched and at the end of it a heavy forefinger which he was shaking at her, so that it was difficult to get out of her chair without pushing him away--a feat apparently impossible.Ariel Tabor, in rising, placed her hand upon his out-stretched arm, quite as if he had offered it to assist her; he fell back a step in complete astonishment; she rose quickly, and released his arm.
"Thank you," she said, beamingly."It's quite all my fault that you're tired.I've been thoughtless to keep you so long, and you have been standing, too!" She swept lightly and quickly to the door, where she paused, gathering her skirts."Ishall not detain you another instant! And if Mr.
Louden comes, this afternoon, I'll remember.I'll not let him come in, of course.It will be perhaps pleasanter to talk over my proposition as we walk!"There was a very faint, spicy odor like wild roses and cinnamon left in the room where Martin Pike stood alone, staring whitely at the open doorway,