A Court of Inquiry

to break a c

, ere you w

nny

ing to stop here on her way

w days,"

le hangers covered with pale blue ribbon. She sighed pensively as she gazed at the garments. Then sh

said I. "Besides, I've on

ing to stop and make us a short visit on

!" he ejaculated. "I must send

the Philosopher, looking

e," replied

ation might not come amiss. Sending all one's trousers to be pressed a

f her my cravat gets under my ear, my coat becomes shapeless, my shoes turn pi

id the Philos

the Skeptic. He looked at

and the habit of inquiry is always strong upon your scientist. "Do you dress for dinner when Mis

comes," I said. "Afterward

too good," supple

e looked down at his white ducks. "Couldn't you w

at me. I shook my he

olation. Brace up, Philo-she's certainly worth all the agony of mind she may cause you. I only refrain from falling head over ears in love with he

true that there were not very many of them, and that none of them had cost very much money, but they were fascinating frocks nevertheless,

t out a gown I had expected to wear only on state occasions, and did something to the sleeves. The Philosop

and attractive, gave no hint to the Philosopher's eyes, observant though they were, of what was to be expected. He had fa

ent when Camellia was occupied with the Skeptic and the

had heard us say, he had expected her to arrive in an e

purity of my white wall. I repaired to my own room-to dress for dinner. As I passed the porch door on my way I looked out. Th

amellia is here. But the Skeptic has gone to do it-if he's not bluffing. Is it true? Do you mean it? We-that is-we haven't been dress

"I don't know any reason why we

fully. "But is the Sk

how she will be looking when she comes down. He admires Camellia ver

ssion, even if I wilt my collar." He fingered lovingly the soft, rolled-over collar of his

t thing. The Philosopher, pushing a finger between his collar and his neck, to see if the wilting process ha

hed. "Yes, she ca

e. The Skeptic's tanned cheek turned a reddish shade-he looked as if he felt pigeon-toed. The Gay Lady held her pretty head high as she smiled

on the present occasion she was dressed as duchesses dress for a lawn-party, she seemed supremel

en hopelessly beneath. The Skeptic joked ceaselessly, but one could see that all the time he feared his cravat might be awry. The dinner itself was a much more formal a

lannel. It was some slight consolation that she came back from the river much bedraggled about the skirts, for the boat had sprung a leak and all the Skeptic's gallantry could not keep her dry. But this necessitated a change before luncheon, and some of us were nearly unable to eat with Camellia sitting

y Lady mending a little hole in the skirt of a tiny

me through the mist, "but it does make me absurdl

ry best gown, that I had made in town by Lautier herself, seems count

e she will wear to-

knows," I ans

hands in his trousers' pockets, from time to time giving his loose change a warning jingle, to remind himself that he could not buy her handkerchiefs. But the Philosopher appeared to r

worn for a week-and I was sure the Gay Lady had never looked prettier. After dinner, in the early dusk, we sat upon the porch. For some time we were more or less silent. Then the Skeptic, from the dept

had been reposing on his back, his hands clasped un

d," he counselled gent

tic with another sigh. "But I

on't," argued

gh the twilight. We would have arisen and

m not really insane-only d

agreed the

er some further moments of silence,

rl," said the Gay Lady qu

and looking at her, "don't you think he

the Gay L

he Philosophe

id I, as the Ske

ere to this unpretentious country place with three trunks, and then wear their contents--Look here"-he paused in front of me and

e not," I

elf in clothes that any fool could see cost-C?sar, what must they cost!-an

dn't ha

t would keep a man humping to furnish the wherewithal. For what," continued the Philosopher, growing very earnest-"what,

ell him that.

its with an agitated thumb and finger. I was sure the Skeptic's present stat

ose slowly fr

e garden path with me?

slowly away int

er came and s

recall what she and I talked about when we sat out here together, at such times as he was willing to leave her in my company, I have really no recollection.

I agreed

modestly, "but I should naturally think the Gay Lady'

idera

ppose a man usually does think much about a woman's clothes-unless he's

ad never imagined that the Philosopher t

ulating on the cost of anybody's clothing.-How comfortable it is on this po

ut across the porch from the hall, looked decidedly more cheerful than when he had left us. Although it had

to Co