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Mr. Langham held her hand in an embarrassed manner, and when he spoke he addressed his wife.

“Queenie, we are going home—now.”

Mrs. Langham and her old friends regarded Mr. Langham with pained amazement. Did the worm dare to turn again, after its trembling submission of the last two days?

“Did you speak, Percival?” Mrs. Langham asked severely.

“I did,” answered Percival promptly, dropping Patricia’s hand and moving into the room. “I said we are going home, now! You have resigned from this committee, and you will resign from every other committee of which you are now a member.”

“Percival!”

“That you should stoop to such a despicable trick as this is unpardonable, Mrs. Langham!”

“Do you defend this woman?” Mrs. Langham cried angrily.

“I defend my good name, Mrs. Langham,” answered her husband sternly. “It is none too early, it seems. I will not have it fouled by such tricks as this.”

Mrs. Langham wilted, and showed signs that she would collapse again, but, as none of her old friends seemed properly sympathetic, she changed her mind.

“It is too much!” she wailed. “I do not see———”

“Please!”

Mr. Langham silenced her with a gesture and turned to Mr. Ezekiel.

“Send your account to me as soon as possible,” he commanded. “And please note that I will not be responsible for any further accounts unless Mrs. Langham bears my written consent to incur them. I think you may rest assured that I shall never be in your debt again.”

Mr. Ezekiel became voluble as Mrs. Langham gave tongue to a loud cry of reproach.

“But, Mr. Langham, why take it out on me?” he pleaded. “What have I done?”