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 and argue with her before going home from the office.

"Hello!" he called before him, coming into the drawing-room; then, seeing Barney, he squared about challengingly.

Ethel guessed from Bennet's wilting, when Barney stood and remained observing him quietly, that Bennet had first assumed that the stranger was her offensive "pick-up" friend, but that closer scrutiny made that at least doubtful. "Well, Ethel," he turned about uncomfortably, "I didn't mean to intrude—"

"Oh, I expected you," Ethel said, her heart pulsing hotly. "Mr. Loutrelle, this is my cousin Bennet Cullen."

"Loutrelle!" Bennet repeated, facing about to Barney again. "So you are Loutrelle!"

The exclamation was so insulting that Ethel rejoiced that Barney offered no reply; he had inclined his head slightly when Ethel had introduced Bennet, and he had stepped forward a little, halting when Bennet thus repulsed him. Her impulse was to interfere in his defense; but Barney glanced quickly at her, and she realized that he, who had made himself from a boy in an Indian shack into an officer who had commanded men during years of war, was used to handling difficult and embarrassing situations for himself.

"What do you want here?" Bennet was demanding.

"Miss Carew knows why I am here," Barney replied quietly.

"I'll ask you to tell me!" Bennet attempted to command. Bennet—Ethel saw—did not know how to command Barney; but Barney knew how to control Bennet.