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young captains and lieutenants； but a brief experience of Mrs。
Bellingham's hospitality must have taught them humility； and when a stout；
elderly gentleman； whose baldness was still trying to be blond； joined the
group； the spectacle was not without its points of resemblance to a social
ovation。 Perhaps it was a Boston social ovation。
〃Hallo； Corey！〃 said this stout gentleman； whom Mrs。 Brinkley at once
introduced as Mr。 Bellingham； and whose salutation Corey returned with
〃Hallo； Charles！〃 of equal intimacy。
Mr。 Bellingham caught at the name of Frobisher。 〃Mrs。 Major Dick
Frobisher？〃
〃Mrs。 Colonel now； but Dick always；〃 said the lady； with immediate
comradery。 〃Do you know my husband？〃
〃I should think so！〃 said Bellingham； and a talk of common interest and
mutual reminiscence sprang up between them。 Bellingham graphically
depicted his meeting with Colonel Frobisher the last time he was out on
the Plains； and Mrs。 Frobisher and Miss Wrayne discovered to their great
satisfaction that he was the brother of Mrs。 Stephen Blake； of Omaba； who
had come out to the fort once with her husband； and captured the garrison；
as they said。 Mrs。 Frobisher accounted for her present separation from
her husband； and said she had come on for a while to be with her father
and sister； who both needed more looking after than the Indians。 Her
father had left the army； and was building railroads。
Miss Wrayne； when she was not appealed to for confirmation or recollection
by her sister； was having a lively talk with Corey and Mrs。 Brinkley； she
seemed to enter into their humour； and no one paid much attention to Dan
Mavering。 He hung upon the outskirts of the little group； proffering
unrequited sympathy and applause； and at last he murmured something about
having to go back to some friends； and took himself off。 Mrs。 Frobisher
and Miss Wrayne let him go with a certain shadethe lightest； and yet
evidentof not wholly satisfied pique： women know how to accept a
reparation on account； and without giving a receipt in full。
Mrs。 Brinkley gave him her hand with an effect of compassionate
intelligence and appreciation of the sacrifice he must have made in
leaving Alice。 〃May I congratulate you？〃 she murmured。
〃Oh yes； indeed； thank you； Mrs。 Brinkley；〃 he gushed tremulously； and he
pressed her hand hard； and clung to it； as if he would like to take her
with him。
Neither of the older men noticed his going。 They were both taken in their
elderly way with these two handsome young women； and they professed regret
Bellingham that his mother was not there； and Corey that neither his
wife nor daughters had come； whom they might otherwise have introduced。
They did not offer to share their acquaintance with any one else； but they
made the most of it themselves； as if knowing a good thing when they had
it。 Their devotion to Mrs。 Frobisher and her sister heightened the
curiosity of such people as noticed it； but it would be wrong to say that
it moved any in that self…limited company with a strong wish to know the
ladies。 The time comes to every man； no matter how great a power he may
be in society； when the general social opinion retires him for senility；
and this time had come for Bromfield Corey。 He could no longer make or
mar any success； and Charles Bellingham was so notoriously amiable； so
deeply compromised by his inveterate habit of liking nearly every one；
that his notice could not distinguish or advantage a newcomer。
He and Corey took the ladies down to supper。 Mrs。 Brinkley saw them there
together； and a little later she saw old Corey wander off； forgetful of
Miss Wrayne。 She saw Dan Mavering； but not the Pasmers； and then； when
Corey forgot Miss Wrayne； she saw Dan； forlorn and bewildered looking；
approach the girl； and offer her his arm for the return to the drawing…
room； she took it with a bright； cold smile； making white rings of
ironical deprecation around the pupils of her eyes。
〃What is that poor boy doing； I wonder？〃 said Mrs。 Brinkley to herself。
XXXVII。
The next morning Dan Mavering knocked at Boardman's door before the
reporter was up。 This might have been any time before one o'clock； but it
was really at half…past nine。 Boardman wanted to know who was there； and
when Mavering had said it was he； Boardman seemed to ponder the fact
awhile before Mavering heard him getting out of bed and coming barefooted
to the door。 He unlocked it； and got back into bed； then he called out；
〃Come in；〃 and Mavering pushed the door open impatiently。 But he stood
blank and silent； looking helplessly at his friend。 A strong glare of
winter light came in through the naked sashfor Boardman apparently not
only did not close his window…blinds； but did not pull down his curtains；
when he went to bedand shone upon his gay； shrewd face where he lay；
showing his pop…corn teeth in a smile at Mavering。
〃Prefer to stand？〃 he asked by and by； after Mavering had remained
standing in silence； with no signs of proposing to sit down or speak。
Mavering glanced at the only chair in the room： Boardman's clothes dripped
and dangled over it。 〃Throw 'em on the bed；〃 he said； following
Mavering's glance。
〃I'll take the bed myself；〃 said Mavering； and he sat down on the side of
it； and was again suggestively silent。
Boardman moved his head on the pillow； as he watched Mavering's face； with
the agreeable sense of personal security which we all feel in viewing
trouble from the outside： 〃You seem balled up about something。〃
Mavering sighed heavily。 〃Balled up？ It's no word for it。 Boardman； I'm
done for。 Yesterday I was the happiest fellow in the world； and nowYes；
it's all over with me； and it's my own fault； as usual。 Look； at that！〃
He jerked Boardman a note which he had been holding fast in his band； and
got up and went to look himself at the wide range of chimney…pots and
slated roofs which Boardman's dormer…window commanded。
〃Want me to read it？〃 Boardman asked； and Mavering nodded without glancing
round。 It dispersed through the air of Boardman's room； as he unfolded
it； a thin； elect perfume； like a feminine presence； refined and strict；
and Boardman involuntarily passed his hand over his rumpled hair； as if to
make himself a little more personable before reading the letter。
〃DEAR MR。 MAVERING；I enclose the ring you gave me the other day； and I
release you from the promise you gave with it。 I am convinced that you
wronged yourself in offering either without your whole heart； and I care
too much for your happiness to let you persist in your sacrifice。
〃In begging that you will not uselessly attempt to see me； but that you
will consider this note final； I know you will do me the justice not to
attribute an ungenerous motive to me。 I shall rejoice to hear of any good
that may befall you； and I shall try not to envy any one through whom it
comes。Yours sincerely；〃 〃ALICE PASMER。〃
〃P。S。I say nothing of circumstances or of persons； I feel that any
comment of mine upon them would be idle。〃
Mavering looked up at the sound Boardman made in refolding the letter。
Boardman grinned； with sparkling eyes。 〃Pretty neat；〃 he said