There she hastily tucked the
hem of her skirt between the piano and the wall. The reflection in a
great blue-black Chinese jar showed her when Rangely appeared between
the portieres, so that she was able to step back as if to view the
effect of her work just as he reached the middle of the room.
"Be careful!" exclaimed he, hurrying forward. "You almost stepped off
backward!"
She wheeled about quickly.
"O Mr. Rangely!" she cried. "How did you get into the room without my
knowing? How horrid of you to surprise me like that!"
"But think how charming it is for me," he responded with an elaborate
air of gallantry. "It is so delightful to see you on a pedestal."
"Meaning that I am no better than a graven image?" she demanded with a
smile. "If that is the best you can do, I may as well come down."
She held out her hand for his, and then sat down, displaying one of the
fascinating slippers, and the openwork instep of her silk stocking,
through the meshes of which the pearly skin gleamed evasively.
"My dress is caught," she said, turning to conceal her face, and
pretending to pull at her skirt.
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