This freed from all responsibility her brother
Carter, who had suddenly appeared to act as escort. Julia, slipping up
the darkening street, after a few moments spent in watching this crowd
of curious young people, found him at her side.
"No coat, Miss Page?" said the easy tones.
"I didn't know it would be so foggy!" said Julia, her heart beginning to
thump.
"And where are you going?"
"Home to get a coat."
"I see. Where is it? I'll take you."
"Oh, it's just a few blocks," Julia said. She knew nothing of the
reputation of San Francisco's neighbourhoods, but Carter gave her a
surprised look. When Julia, quite unembarrassed, stopped at the door
beside the saloon, he was the more confused of the two, although the
accident of seeing him again had set the blood to racing in Julia's
veins and made speech difficult. She had been longing for just this; she
was trembling with eagerness and nervousness.
"Father and Mother live here?" asked Carter.
"Just Mama--she rents rooms."
"Oh, I see!" He had stepped into the deep doorway, and catching her by
the shoulders he said now, inconsequently: "Do you know you're the
prettiest girl that ever _was_?"
"Am I?" said Julia, in a whisper.
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