They had retrogressed as far as the "injine"--the "steam
injine"--when Allison finally made himself heard.
"What I can't remember is just why you left us so suddenly. I know it
was some sort of a rumpus, with Barbara in it--there's always a woman,
of course--but I can't recall----"
He paused to ponder--paused and became aware immediately of Barbara's
swift silence and Steve's hint of self-consciousness. Then it all
returned to him with a rush. He had his turn.
"Oh, but I do remember," he drawled. "Why, of course--_of course_! It
was a matter of knight-errantry and ladies fair! But who was it whose
choice conflicted with your own?"
He cocked his head on one side, mock thoughtful; then he fell to
pounding his knee and roared with laughter.
"Archie Wickersham!" he shouted. "Archie Wickersham--oh, Lord! I
never really appreciated that _melee_ until this minute. And you
promised that you'd be back, didn't you, and--well, b'gad, here you
are! And now don't suffer any longer, Barbara, though I must state
that this is the first time I ever knew you to search so diligently
beneath the table for renewed composure. I am not going to expound Mr.
O'Mara's reasons for going, any more than I could dilate upon those
which have brought him back. But please shake hands again--Steve.
And, if I may be pardoned the idiom, allow me to assure you that it was
some battle!"
If it did nothing else, Allison's ponderous raillery served one end.
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