Jimmy was beginning to see it more and more in the light of an
inconvenience.

"If you hadn't been in front of that horrid old restaurant just
when I was passing," she continued, "all this would never have
happened. But you were there, and you asked me to come in and
have a bite with you; and I did, and there you are."

"Yes, there I am," assented Jimmy dismally. There was no doubt
about where he was now, but where was he going to end? That was
the question. "See here," he exclaimed with fast growing
uneasiness, "I don't like being mixed up in this sort of thing."

"Of course you'd think of yourself first," sneered Zoie. "That's
just like a man."

"Well, I don't want to get your husband down on me," argued Jimmy
evasively.

"Oh, I didn't give YOU away," sneered Zoie. "YOU needn't worry,"
and she fixed her eyes upon him with a scornful expression that
left no doubt as to her opinion that he was a craven coward.

"But you said he'd 'found out,' " stammered Jimmy.

"He's found out that I ate with a MAN," answered Zoie, more and
more aggrieved at having to employ so much detail in the midst of
her distress. "He doesn't know it was you."

"But Zoie----" protested Jimmy.