She stiffened at the affront. Then her face fell and tears threatened to spill once again. She stood up abruptly, "Why are YOU here, Robert? And don't talk to him like that, he merely helped me in a moment of distress, which is more than I can say for you, brother!" She grabbed her carpetbag angrily. Tilly was rounding the corner with the cab at that time. "I am so very sorry for my brother's lack of manners, Mister Blacke," she said in a softer, more amiable tone. She lifted her chin in defiance to her damnable brother.