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a trace of amusement in it； too； 〃I see that I will have to go on。〃
〃Oh； do！〃 he made out to utter。
〃I am going to Mrs。 Westangle's as a sort of mistress of the revels。 The
business is so new that it hasn't got its name yet； but if I fail it
won't need any。 I invented it on a hint I got from a girl who undertakes
the floral decorations for parties。 I didn't see why some one shouldn't
furnish suggestions for amusements； as well as flowers。 I was always
rather lucky at that in my own famat my father's〃 She pulled herself
sharply up； as if danger lay that way。 〃I got an introduction to Mrs。
Westangle； and she's to let me try。 I am going to her simply as part of
the catering； and I'm not to have any recognition in the hospitalities。
So it wasn't necessary for her to send for me at the station； except as a
means of having me on the ground in good season。 I have to thank you for
that； andI thank you。〃 She ended in a sigh。
〃It's very interesting；〃 Verrian said； and he hoped he was not saying it
in any ignoble way。
He was very presently to learn。 Round a turn of the road there came a
lively clacking of horses' shoes on the hard track； with the muted rumble
of rubber…tired wheels； and Mrs。 Westangle's victoria dashed into view。
The coachman had made a signal to Verrian's driver； and the vehicles
stopped side by side。 The footman instantly came to the door of the
carryall； touching his hat to Verrian。
〃Going to Mrs。 Westangle's； sir？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Mrs。 Westangle's carriage。 Going to the station for you； sir。〃
〃Miss Shirley；〃 Verrian said； 〃 will you change？〃
〃Oh no；〃 she answered； quickly； 〃it's better for me to go on as I am。
But the carriage was sent for you。 You must〃
Verrian interrupted to ask the footman； 〃How far is it yet to Mrs。
Westangle's？〃
〃About a mile； sir。〃
〃I think I won't change for such a short distance。 I'll keep on as I
am；〃 Verrian said； and he let the goatskin； which he had half lifted to
free Miss Shirley for dismounting； fall back again。 〃Go ahead； driver。〃
She had been making several gasping efforts at speech； accompanied with
entreating and protesting glances at Verrian in the course of his brief
colloquy with the footman。 Now； as the carryall lurched forward again；
and the victoria wheeled and passed them on its way back； she caught her
handkerchief to her face； and to Verrian's dismay sobbed into it。 He let
her cry； as he must； in the distressful silence which he could not be the
first to break。 Besides； he did not know how she was taking it all till
she suddenly with threw her handkerchief and pulled down her veil。 Then
she spoke three heart…broken words； 〃How could you！〃 and he divined that
he must have done wrong。
〃What ought I to have done？〃 he asked； with sullen humility。
〃You ought to have taken the victoria。〃
〃How could I？〃
〃You ought to have done it。〃
〃I think you ought to have done it yourself； Miss Shirley；〃 Verrian said；
feeling like the worm that turns。 He added； less resentfully； 〃We ought
both to have taken it。〃
〃No； Mrs。 Westangle might have felt； very properly； that it was
presumptuous in me； whether I came alone in it or with you。 Now we shall
arrive together in this thing； and she will be mortified for you and
vexed with me。 She will blame me for it； and she will be right； for it
would have been very well for me to drive up in a shabby station
carryall； but an invited guest〃
〃 No； indeed； she shall not blame you； Miss Shirley。 I will make a point
of taking the whole responsibility。 I will tell her〃
〃Mr。 Merriam！〃 she cried； in anguish。 〃Will you please do nothing of the
kind？ Do you want to make bad worse？ Leave the explaining altogether to
me； please。 Will you promise that？〃
〃I will promise thator anythingif you insist；〃 Verrian sulked。
She instantly relented a little。 〃You mustn't think me unreasonable。
But I was determined to carry my undertaking through on business
principles； and you have spoiled my chanceI know you meant it kindly
or； if not spoiled； made it more difficult。 Don't think me ungrateful。
Mr。 Merriam〃
〃My name isn't Merriam；〃 he resented； at last； a misnomer which had
annoyed him from the first。
〃Oh； I am so glad！ Don't tell me what it is！〃 she said； giving a laugh
which had to go on a little before he recognized the hysterical quality
in it。 When she could check it she explained： 〃Now we are not even
acquainted； and I can thank a stranger for the kindness you have shown
me。 I am truly grateful。 Will you do me another favor？〃
〃Yes；〃 Verrian assented； but he thought he had a right to ask； as though
he had not promised； 〃What is it？〃
〃Not to speak of me to Mrs。 Westangle unless she speaks of me first。〃
〃That's simple。 I don't know that I should have any right to speak of
you。〃
〃Oh yes； you would。 She will expect you； perhaps； to laugh about the
little adventure； and I would rather she began the laughing you have been
so good。〃
〃All right。 But wouldn't my silence make it rather more awkward？〃
〃I will take care of the awkwardness； thank you。 And you promise？〃
〃Yes； I promise。〃
〃That is very good of you。〃 She put her hand impulsively across the
goat…skin； and gave his； with which he took it in some surprise； a quick
clasp。 Then they were both silent； and they got out of the carryall
under Mrs。 Westangle's porte…cochere without having exchanged another
word。 Miss Shirley did not bow to him or look at him in parting。
X。
Verrian kept seeing before his inner eyes the thin face of the girl；
dimmed rather than lighted with her sick yes。 When she should be
stronger； there might be a pale flush in it； like sunset on snow； but
Verrian had to imagine that。 He did not find it difficult to imagine
many things about the girl； whom； in another mood； a more judicial mood；
he might have accused of provoking him to imagine them。 As it was； he
could not help noting to that second self which we all have about us；
that her confidences； such as they were； had perhaps been too voluntary；
certainly they had not been quite obligatory； and they could not be quite
accounted for； except upon the theory of nerves not yet perfectly under
her control。 To be sure； girls said all sorts of things to one；
ignorantly and innocently； but she did not seem the kind of girl who； in
different circumstances； would have said anything that she did not choose
or that she did not mean to say。 She had been surprisingly frank； and
yet； at heart； Verrian would have thought she was a very reticent person
or a secret personthat is； mentally frank and sentimentally secret；
possibly she was like most women in that。 What he was sure of was that
the visual impression of her which he had received must have been very
vivid to last so long in his consciousness； all through his preparations
for going down to afternoon tea her face remained subjectively before
him； and when he went down and found himself part of a laughing and
chattering company in the library he still found it； in his inner sense；
here； there； and yonder。
He was aware of suffering a little disappointment in Mrs。 Westangle's
entire failure