He had found her so interesting himself that he had paid slight attention to Eileen's pouting.
Tonight he was forced to study Eileen, for the sake of his own comfort to try to conciliate her.

He was uncomfortable because he was unable to conduct himself as Eileen wished him to, without a small sickening disgust creeping into his soul.

Before the evening was over he became exasperated, and ended by asking flatly: "Eileen, what in the dickens is the matter with you ?" It was a new tone and a new question on nerves tensely strung.
"If you weren't blind you'd know without asking," retorted Eileen hotly.
"Then I am 'blind,' for I haven't the slightest notion.

What have I done ?" "Isn't it just barely possible," asked Eileen, "that there might be other people who would annoy and exasperate me?
I have not hinted that you have done anything, although I don't know that it's customary for a man calling on his betrothed to stop first for a visit with her sister." "For the love of Mike!" said John Gilman.

"Am I to be found fault with for crossing the lawn a minute to see how Linda's wild garden is coming on?
I have dug and helped set enough of those plants to justify some interest in them as they grow." "And the garden was your sole subject of conversation ?" inquired Eileen, implied doubt conveyed nicely.
"No, it was not," answered Gilman, all the bulldog in his nature coming to the surface.
"As I knew perfectly," said Eileen.