Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/91



Mrs. Gallagher reposed on guard on the couch outside her door, Nan tossed sleeplessly in the guest-chamber of the Esmeraldas ranch-house. The experience of the evening was a harsh one to a girl reared in ignorance of men of Spiser's type.

She thought that in some way she must have been to blame, too—lacking in reserve and dignity—else how could he have so misjudged her? And he had lied to her about his sister's coming—he had insulted her!

She felt cheapened, disgraced, to have figured in such an episode, and her cheeks burned again and again with shame.

It was some solace in her humiliation to know that Fritz Poth at least had not misunderstood her, else he would not have sent Mrs. Gallagher with such despatch for the very obvious reason of protection.

Nan remembered now that Fritz Poth had pointed Mrs. Gallagher out as a mongrel lady 83