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Boardman grinned； with sparkling eyes。 〃Pretty neat；〃 he said。
〃Pretty infernally neat；〃 roared Mavering。
〃Do you suppose she means business？〃
〃Of course she means business。 Why shouldn't she？〃
〃I don't know。 Why should she？〃
〃Well； I'll tell you； Boardman。 I suppose I shall have to tell you if I'm
going to get any good out of you； but it's a dose。〃 He came away from
the window； and swept Boardman's clothes off the chair preparatory to
taking it。
Boardman lifted his head nervously from the pillow。
〃Oh； I'll put them on the bed； if you're so punctilious！〃 cried Mavering。
〃I don't mind the clothes；〃 said Boardman。 〃I thought I heard my watch
knock on the floor in my vest pocket。 Just take it out； will you； and see
if you've stopped it？〃
〃Oh； confound your old Waterbury！ All the world's stopped； why shouldn't
your watch stop too？〃 Mavering tugged it out of the pocket； and then
shoved it back disdainfully。 〃You couldn't stop that thing with anything
short of a sledgehammer； it's rattling away like a mowing…machine。 You
know those Portland womenthose ladies I spent the day with when you were
down there at the regattathe day I came from CampobelloMrs。 Frobisher
and her sister？〃 He agglutinated one query to another till he saw a light
of intelligence dawn in Boardman's eye。 〃Well； they're at the bottom of
it； I suppose。 I was introduced to them on Class Day； and I ought to have
shown them some attention there； but the moment I saw AliceMiss Pasmer
I forgot all about 'em。 But they didn't seem to have noticed it much； and
I made it all right with 'em that day at Portland； and they came up in the
fall； and I made an appointment with them to drive out to Cambridge and
show them the place。 They were to take me up at the Art Museum； but that
was the day I met Miss Pasmer； and II forgot about those women again。〃
Boardman was one of those who seldom laugh； but his grin expressed all
the malicious enjoyment he felt。 He said nothing in the impressive
silence which Mavering let follow at this point。
〃Oh； you think it was funny？〃 cried Mavering。 〃I thought it was funny
too； but Alice herself opened my eyes to what I'd done； and I always
intended to make it all right with them when I got the chance。 I supposed
she wished me too。〃
Boardman grinned afresh。
〃She told me I must； though she seemed to dislike my having been with them
the day after she'd thrown me over。 But if〃Mavering interrupted himself
to say； as the grin widened on Boardman's face〃if you think it was any
case of vulgar jealousy； you're very much mistaken； Boardman。 She isn't
capable of it； and she was so magnanimous about it that I made up my mind
to do all I could to retrieve myself。 I felt that it was my duty to her。
Well； last night at Mrs。 Jim Bellingham's reception〃
A look of professional interest replaced the derision in Boardman's eyes。
〃Any particular occasion for the reception？ Given in honour of anybody？〃
〃I'll contribute to your society notes some other time； Boardman；〃 said
Mavering haughtily。 〃I'm speaking to a friend； not an interviewer。 Well；
whom should I see after the first waltzI'd been dancing with Alice； and
we were taking a turn through the drawing…room； and she hanging on my arm；
and I knew everybody saw how it was； and I was feeling wellwhom should I
see but these women。 They were in a corner by themselves； looking at a
picture； and trying to look as if they were doing it voluntarily。 But I
could see at a glance that they didn't know anybody； and I knew they had
better be in the heart of the Sahara without acquaintances than where they
were； and when they bowed forlornly across the room to me； my heart was in
my mouth； I felt so sorry for them； and I told Alice who they were； and I
supposed she'd want to rush right over to them with me〃
〃And did she rush？〃 asked Boardman； filling up a pause which Mavering made
in wiping his face。
〃How infernally hot you have it in here！〃 He went to the window and threw
it up； and then did not sit down again； but continued to walk back and
forth as he talked。 〃She didn't seem to know who they were at first； and
when I made her understand she hung back； and said； 'Those showy things？'
and I must say I think she was wrong； they were dressed as quietly as
nine…tenths of the people there； only they are rather large； handsome
women。 I said I thought we ought to go and speak to them； they seemed
stranded there； but she didn't seem to see it； and； when I persisted； she
said； ' Well； you go if you think best； but take me to mamma。' And I
supposed it was all right； and I told Mrs。 Pasmer I'd be back in a minute；
and then I went off to those women。 And after I'd talked with them a
while I saw Mrs。 Brinkley sitting with old Bromfield Corey in another
corner； and I got them across and introduced them； after I'd explained to
Mrs。 Brinkley who they were； and they began to have a good time； and I
didn't。〃
〃Just so；〃 said Boardman。
〃I thought I hadn't been gone any while at all from Alice； but the weather
had changed by the time I had got back。 Alice was pretty serious； and she
was engaged two or three dances deep； and I could see her looking over the
fellows' shoulders； as she went round and round； pretty pale。 I hung
about till she was free； but then she couldn't dance with me； she said her
head ached； and she made her mother take her home before supper； and I
mooned round like my own ghost a while； and then I went home。 And as if
that wasn't enough； I could see by the looks of those other womenold
Corey forgot Miss Wrayne in the supper…room； and I had to take her back
that I hadn't made it right with them； even； they were as hard and smooth
as glass。 I'd ruined myself； and ruined myself for nothing。〃
Mavering flung Boardman's chair over； and seated himself on its rungs。
〃I went to bed； and waited for the next thing to happen。 I found my
thunderbolt waiting for me when I woke up。 I didn't know what it was
going to be； but when I felt a ring through the envelope of that note I
knew what it was。 I mind…read that note before I opened it。〃
〃Give it to the Society for Psychical Research；〃 suggested Boardman。
〃Been to breakfast？〃
〃Breakfast！〃 echoed Mavering。 〃Well； now； Boardman； what use do you
suppose I've got for breakfast under the circumstances？〃
〃Well； not very much； but your story's made me pretty hungry。 Would you
mind turning your back； or going out and sitting on the top step of the
stairs' landing； or something； while I get up and dress？〃
〃Oh； I can go； if you want to get rid of me；〃 said Mavering； with
unresentful sadness。 〃But I hoped you might have something to suggest；
Boardy。'
〃Well； I've suggested two things； and you don't like either。 Why not go
round and ask to see the old lady？〃
〃Mrs。 Pasmer？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I thought of that。 But I didn't like to mention it； for fear you'd
sit on it。 When would you go？〃
〃Well； about as quick as I could get there。 It's early for a call； but
it's a peculiar occasion； and it'll show your interest in the thing。 You
can't very well let it cool on your hands； unless you mean to accept the