A plan slowly formed itself in her mind, in which she became so engrossed
that she unconsciously crossed the cable of the Jackson Street cars. She
did not turn till a hand was suddenly laid upon her arm.
"What are you doing in this part of town?" broke in Louis Arnold's voice in
evident anger.
"Oh, Louis, how you startled me! What is the matter with this part of
town?"
"You are on a very disreputable street. Where are you going?"
"Home."
"Then be so kind as to turn back with me and take the cars."
She glanced at him quickly, unused to his tone of command, and turned with
him.
"How do you happen to be here?" he asked shortly.
"Dr. Kemp took me to see a poor patient of his."
"Dr. Kemp?" surprise raised his eyebrows half an inch.
"Yes."
"Indeed! Then," he continued in cool, biting words, "why didn't he carry
his charity a little farther and take you home again?"
"Because I did not choose to go with him," she returned, rearing her head
and looking calmly at him as they walked along.
"Bah! What had your wishing or not wishing to do with it? The man knew
where he had taken you even if you did not know. This quarter is occupied
by nothing but negroes and foreign loafers. It was decidedly ungentlemanly
to leave you to return alone at this time of the evening.
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