The Adventures of a Modest Man
. And, as he was, in addition, plainly one of her own sort, a man she was likely to meet anywhere-a well-bred, well-mannered and agreeable young fellow, probably a re
might steady your nerves to repeat your own name very slowly and d
abury," he said, la
said gravely. "I k
r. She's
ht-different in this way that his credentials were now unquestionable, and
of physicians," he asked na?v
d. "I don't requi
nly wond
? I will be very glad to tell you, Mr. Seabury. C stan
aid; "that's
do you think your mental calibr
." The subject shifted from shooting to fishing, and from hunting to driving four-in-hand, and eventually cam
d I were in Par
rece
t ye
ought
" he
as one of those obs
ughing at m
I? W
know why? I don't know why you
Seabury, because I don'
know my
he is a
me? And, besides, yo
I d
tin and I don't know Mrs. Austin. It was nice of he
to ask you," said the girl,
were married," he said. "
t sounds rather st
all her brief life had she been tempted to do to anybody what she was doing to him. She had often been imprudent in a circumspect way-conventionally unconventional at times-even a lit
ge mottled man; the other as a furry footman had been bumped by Seabury and jeered at by a girl wearing dark blue eyes and chinchillas. And now the affronted Three were taking exclusive charge of John Seabury and Cecil Gay. She was partly aware of this; she did not
e Jack Austin
all
lling t
o make wagers.... Still, I might, perhaps safely wager that I s
f the wager; cigarettes ver
iumphantly, "so you may as well send the cigarette
looking dreamily at him, her muff pressed alongside of her
t v
enge
't think so," h
lieved," she
hy
a dreadful thing-
o
no
rses sped, the faster her pulses beat, and the more uncertain and repentant she became until her uncertainty increased to a
ned golden, every separate flake distinct as they passed a great gate with the lodge beside it and went spinnin
his aid to Cecil Gay as several serv
d so splendidly," he whispered to Mi
he lost no time in following a maid into the elevator, whit
ubbing a palace a cottage is the worse sort of
d smilingly to Cecil Gay, but she hurried past him, crimson
wf awfter height, sir," ann
his suit-case. And when he was alone he hopped nimbly out of his apparel and into a bath an
him. It will do him good. It becomes him.... Plucky fellow to go on grinding at the law!... Only thing to do, of course-decent thing to do-self-respect and all that.... But,
red. Then, glancing at his watch, he completed his toilet, opened his door, and, scornin
he chatter and laughter of a very jolly throng-this is what co
ere," he said, examini
, sir-what
Sea
ked and Seabury
he walked in, and, singling out the hostess, advanced with smiling confidence, thinking
ughingly mentioned the dinner-cards; and she said it was a vexing oversight and would be immediately arranged-glancing rather sharply at an amiable gentleman standing near her. And this amiable gentleman came up to Seabury and shook hands very cordially, and said several agreeable things to which Seabury responded, until new arrivals sepa
er, to Brimwell and others, then crossed to speak to Catherine Hyland and Dorothy Minste
search me. Didn't you ask him?" And his wife responded: "He's talking to nearly everybody. It's curi
s saying coolly: "I h
d Dorothy Minst
k Au
r, who did not know hi
foreground-a charmingly flushed young girl who knew everybody and was evidently a tremendous favorite, judging fr
elbow was obliged to cough discreetly half a dozen times and repeat "B
miling, he turned to find the girl whose name was written on the card. She was speaking to the hostess and the amiable
is that very
ow should
amiable gentleman; "this
ank you
is he and where d
im
anded her hostess and elder sister.
g him, Betty. H
ow
ot-sleigh,
th
would come! I couldn't turn him
I put my name down on his card; he'll take me in.... Jim, don't, for Heaven's sake, say anything if he calls Betty Mrs. Austin. Oh, Jim, be decent, please! I was a fool to do it; I don't know what possessed me! Wa
?" broke in the amiable man
cause he knows half the people here, and I've simply got to keep him out of their way so that nobody can tell him whe
y!" exclaimed her sister, in
is way there?" demanded her brothe
ned her guilty face in a sort of panic of premonition. She was a true prophetess; Seabury had seen his cha