KIPPS
his mind on his own account. He listened no more to Revel. He put down his knife and fork and refused everything that followed. Coote regarded him with tactful concern, and Helen flushed a little.
§ 4
About half-past nine that night came a violent pull at the bell of Mrs. Bindon Botting, and a young man in a dress suit, a Gibus and other marks of exalted social position stood without. Athwart his white expanse of breast lay a ruddy bar of patterned silk that gave him a singular distinction and minimised the glow of a few small stains of burgundy. His Gibus was thrust back and exposed a disorder of hair that suggested a reckless desperation. He had, in fact, burned his boats and refused to join the ladies. Coote, in the subsequent conversation, had protested quietly, "You're going on all right, you know," to which Kipps had answered he didn't care a "Eng" about that, and so, after a brief tussle with Walshingham's detaining arm, had got away. "I got something to do," he said. "'Ome." And here he was—panting an extraordinary resolve. The door opened, revealing the pleasantly furnished hall of Mrs. Bindon Botting, lit by rose-tinted lights, and in the centre of the picture, neat and pretty in black and white, stood Ann. At the sight of Kipps her colour vanished.
"Ann," said Kipps, "I want to speak to you. I got something to say to you right away. See? I'm———"
"This ain't the door to speak to me at," said Ann.
"But, Ann! It's something special."
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