I am just going home." And with an energetic movement she freed herself from him, and was soon in the gayest of talk with the Under-Secretary.
* * * * * The reception broke up some time after midnight, and on the way home General Hobson attempted a raid upon his nephew's intentions.
"I don't wish to seem an intrusive person, my dear Roger, but may I ask how much longer you mean to stay in Washington ?" The tone was short and the look which accompanied the words not without sarcasm.

Roger, who had been walking beside his companion, still deeply flushed, in complete silence, gave an awkward laugh.
"And as for you, Uncle Archie, I thought you meant to sail a fortnight ago.

If you've been staying on like this on my account----" "Don't make a fool either of me or yourself, Roger!" said the General hastily, roused at last to speech by the annoyance of the situation.

"Of course it was on your account that I have stayed on.

But what on earth it all means, and where your affairs are--I'm hanged if I have the glimmer of an idea!" Roger's smile was perfectly good-humoured.
"I haven't much myself," he said quietly.
"Do you--or do you not--mean to propose to Miss Floyd ?" cried the General, pausing in the centre of Lafayette Square, now all but deserted, and apostrophizing with his umbrella--for the night was soft and rainy--the presidential statue above his head.
"Have I given you reason to suppose that I was going to do so ?" said Roger slowly.
"Given me ?--given everybody reason ?--of course you have!--a dozen times over.