"You are heartless--cruel." He threw himself down upon the small divan before the fire, flinging his head back amongst the cushions. "You know that you are the only thing in the world that makes life worth living for me, and yet you deny yourself to me, just because you are afraid of what people will say. Of what that cackling crowd of snickerers downstairs might think of you. I thought you were bigger than that, Anne." She looked down into the wrathful face with recovered self-possession. "That crowd of snickerers, as you so politely call them, means very little in my life. But my own self-respect happens to mean a great deal. If you expect me to become your mistress just because you appeal to my compassion, you are doomed to disappointment! If my friendship will content you, that is another thing." Her coldness fell upon him like a revivifying shower. The apathetic young figure sprang from the divan with a bound. "What an ass I've made of myself! Just because you were kind, I was fool enough to imagine you loved me. I suppose it didn't seem possible that I could feel about you the way I do without any return from you. I--I think I'd better go." "No, no, Alexis, you don't understand." He ignored her imploring gesture, and taking up his hat and coat, started for the door. But it was too late. A languid footfall fell outside in the corridor. Before Anne could reach the door, it opened to admit Ellen Barnes, a rising wave of voices mounting in her wake. With a swift movement, Anne sprang forward and closed the door behind the other woman. Standing with her back against it, she looked at Ellen with a mixture of command and appeal. "Did you think I was never coming?" she asked. "Do go downstairs again and tell the others I'll be there directly. I'll explain later." With a keen glance into Alexis' face, a lazy smile upon her lips, Ellen lounged into the room. "Won't you introduce us first? Don't worry, I won't give you away!" she purred. She sat down, prepared to light a cigarette. Anne concealed her anger beneath a casual smile. "There's nothing to give away, as you call it, Ellen. This gentleman is calling upon me on private matters. If you will excuse us, I'll come down as soon as he has finished telling me what he came to say." Ellen rose, a quizzical gleam in her eye. "Sorry to have interrupted a business conference," she waved her unlighted cigarette languidly. "Since when has Mr. Petrovskey given up music for stocks and bonds? Mr. Petrovskey, won't you please become my adviser, too?" She turned towards Alexis, good-natured mockery in her large, infantile gaze. He stepped forward with a rueful laugh. "I'm afraid I'm not qualified. You see, poor Mrs. Schuyler was only trying to shield me. Since--since my illness," he choked a little and then continued swiftly, "it has been very difficult for me to meet people, and so she was kind enough to bring me up here. I--I didn't know she was receiving tonight."