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gravely as if witnessing a last will and testament； respectfully
paused before the entrance of the drawing…room。 The sound of
measured and rhetorical speech； through which the occasional
catarrhal cough of the New…England coast struggled； as the only
effort of nature not wholly repressed； came from its heavily…
curtained recesses； for the occasion of the evening had been the
reception and entertainment of various distinguished persons； and；
as had been epigrammatically expressed by one of the guests； 〃the
history of the country〃 was taking its leave in phrases more or
less memorable and characteristic。 Some of these valedictory
axioms were clever； some witty； a few profound； but always left as
a genteel contribution to the entertainer。 Some had been already
prepared； and； like a card； had served and identified the guest at
other mansions。
The last guest departed； the last carriage rolled away； when the
servant ventured to indicate the existence of the despatch to his
master； who was standing on the hearth…rug in an attitude of
wearied self…righteousness。 He took it； opened it； read it； re…
read it； and said；
〃There must be some mistake！ It is not for me。 Call the boy；
Waters。〃
Waters； who was perfectly aware that the boy had left； nevertheless
obediently walked towards the hall…door； but was recalled by his
master。
〃No matterat present！〃
〃It's nothing serious； William？〃 asked Mrs。 Rightbody； with languid
wifely concern。
〃No； nothing。 Is there a light in my study？〃
〃Yes。 But； before you go； can you give me a moment or two？〃
Mr。 Rightbody turned a little impatiently towards his wife。 She
had thrown herself languidly on the sofa； her hair was slightly
disarranged； and part of a slippered foot was visible。 She might
have been a finely…formed woman； but even her careless deshabille
left the general impression that she was severely flannelled
throughout； and that any ostentation of womanly charm was under
vigorous sanitary SURVEILLANCE。
〃Mrs。 Marvin told me to…night that her son made no secret of his
serious attachment for our Alice； and that； if I was satisfied； Mr。
Marvin would be glad to confer with you at once。〃
The information did not seem to absorb Mr。 Rightbody's wandering
attention； but rather increased his impatience。 He said hastily；
that he would speak of that to…morrow； and partly by way of
reprisal； and partly to dismiss the subject； added
〃Positively James must pay some attention to the register and the
thermometer。 It was over 70 degrees to…night； and the ventilating
draught was closed in the drawing…room。〃
〃That was because Professor Ammon sat near it； and the old
gentleman's tonsils are so sensitive。〃
〃He ought to know from Dr。 Dyer Doit that systematic and regular
exposure to draughts stimulates the mucous membrane； while fixed
air over 60 degrees invariably〃
〃I am afraid； William；〃 interrupted Mrs。 Rightbody； with feminine
adroitness； adopting her husband's topic with a view of thereby
directing him from it；〃I'm afraid that people do not yet
appreciate the substitution of bouillon for punch and ices。 I
observed that Mr。 Spondee declined it； and； I fancied； looked
disappointed。 The fibrine and wheat in liqueur…glasses passed
quite unnoticed too。〃
〃And yet each half…drachm contained the half…digested substance of
a pound of beef。 I'm surprised at Spondee！〃 continued Mr。
Rightbody aggrievedly。 〃Exhausting his brain and nerve force by
the highest creative efforts of the Muse； he prefers perfumed and
diluted alcohol flavored with carbonic acid gas。 Even Mrs。
Faringway admitted to me that the sudden lowering of the
temperature of the stomach by the introduction of ice〃
〃Yes； but she took a lemon ice at the last Dorothea Reception； and
asked me if I had observed that the lower animals refused their
food at a temperature over 60 degrees。〃
Mr。 Rightbody again moved impatiently towards the door。 Mrs。
Rightbody eyed him curiously。
〃You will not write； I hope？ Dr。 Keppler told me to…night that
your cerebral symptoms interdicted any prolonged mental strain。〃
〃I must consult a few papers；〃 responded Mr。 Rightbody curtly； as
he entered his library。
It was a richly…furnished apartment； morbidly severe in its
decorations； which were symptomatic of a gloomy dyspepsia of art；
then quite prevalent。 A few curios； very ugly； but providentially
equally rare； were scattered about。 There were various bronzes；
marbles； and casts； all requiring explanation； and so fulfilling
their purpose of promoting conversation； and exhibiting the
erudition of their owner。 There were souvenirs of travel with a
history； old bric…a…brac with a pedigree； but little or nothing
that challenged attention for itself alone。 In all cases the
superiority of the owner to his possessions was admitted。 As a
natural result； nobody ever lingered there； the servants avoided
the room； and no child was ever known to play in it。
Mr。 Rightbody turned up the gas； and from a cabinet of drawers；
precisely labelled； drew a package of letters。 These he carefully
examined。 All were discolored； and made dignified by age； but
some； in their original freshness； must have appeared trifling； and
inconsistent with any correspondent of Mr。 Rightbody。 Nevertheless；
that gentleman spent some moments in carefully perusing them；
occasionally referring to the telegram in his hand。 Suddenly
there was a knock at the door。 Mr。 Rightbody started； made a
half…unconscious movement to return the letters to the drawer；
turned the telegram face downwards； and then； somewhat harshly；
stammered；
〃Eh？ Who's there？ Come in。〃
〃I beg your pardon； papa；〃 said a very pretty girl； entering；
without； however； the slightest trace of apology or awe in her
manner； and taking a chair with the self…possession and familiarity
of an habitue of the room； 〃but I knew it was not your habit to
write late； so I supposed you were not busy。 I am on my way to
bed。〃
She was so very pretty； and withal so utterly unconscious of it； or
perhaps so consciously superior to it； that one was provoked into a
more critical examination of her face。 But this only resulted in a
reiteration of her beauty； and perhaps the added facts that her
dark eyes were very womanly； her rich complexion eloquent； and her
chiselled lips fell enough to be passionate or capricious；
notwithstanding that their general effect suggested neither
caprice； womanly weakness； nor passion。
With the instinct of an embarrassed man； Mr。 Rightbody touched the
topic he would have preferred to avoid。
〃I suppose we must talk over to…morrow；〃 he hesitated； 〃this matter
of yours and Mr。 Marvin's？ Mrs。 Marvin has formally spoken to your
mother。〃
Miss Alice lifted her bright eyes intelligently； but not joyfully；
and the color of action； rather than embarrasament； rose to her
round cheeks。
〃Yes； HE said she would；〃 she answered simply。
〃At present；〃 continued Mr。 Rightbody still awkwardly； 〃I see no
objection to the proposed arrangement。〃
Miss Alice opened her round eyes at this。
〃Why； papa； I thought it had been all settled long ago！ Mamma knew
it； you knew it。 L