A Court of Inquiry

that women

en they should

of the

ed my hostess at the breakfast-table one morning, glancing up

ed, digging away vengefully at his grapefruit. "What have I to wear? My only consolat

d Hepatica thoughtfully, "so much as the formality of

d. "Can I hope to pleas

feathers of his wife's hospitality can't prevent his giving you the real thing. Even Phi

hy the dear people will all persist in thinking things which do not exist! Of course I was glad the Philosopher was to be there. What enjoyment

t it in. When we departed we were as correctly attired as time and thought could make us. When we arrived we were doubly glad that this was so,

ng of incessant interviews with those who see to the mechanism of formal entertaining, had not begun to wear upon her. But she was very cordial with us, and her husband, the Judge, was eq

I sat, diverted me so successfully by means of his own most interesting personality and delightful powers of conversation, that in time I forgot

rself was as

ed as

nd Hepatica and I were talking over common memories. "The gladdest man to get into his summer camp in Maine is the Judge, and the life of absolute abandon to freedom he lives there ought to teach his w

ght," said Camellia reflectively, as we sat about. "A v

d the Skeptic and the Philosopher drop, although t

bt if our friends would prefer meeting our neighbours, whom they don't know,

and the Elliots are very gay."-The Judge only lifted his handsome eyebrow

above his broad forehead. He did not need to tell us that he di

professional, of course. He only gives readings among his special friends. I believe I'

her could we discuss his wife's tastes with him. He and we talked of other things until Camellia came back,

owed us once when the men were away, was a big, bare room-this was her characterization-principally fireplace, easy-chairs, books and windows. I liked it better tha

ngs here-when I don't actually force him to go out with me-and I spend mine down in the pleasanter quarters. I have the Liscombes an

ause he preferred wide fires and elbow-room and outlook to Camellia's crowded and over-decorated rooms below, and his books to Mrs. Liscom

uite as "gay" as she had pictured them, and gorgeously dressed. I felt, as I attempted to maintain my part

the words. She possessed a voice of some beauty, but was evidently determined to be classed among the sopranos who are able t

he Skeptic in my ear. "It gives me a pang to see a woman, alone and

ld have to suffer so much with so many stalwart men at hand. From the first moment, when he drew his sword and leaped into the fray, our sympathies were with him, although he personified a doughty man of battl

tic again. "How came they to let him

r a pile of music. If I had not known him so well I should have been deceived by that grave and interested air of his-a slight frown of concentrated attention between his well-marked eyebrows-into thinking him deeply impressed by the lady's dicta and by her somewhat das

s I went to my room, three male forms leaping up

there?" I asked Hepatica as, with hair down and trailing, loose garments, she came int

rs like three dogs loosed from the le

can

stared back. But we we

id Hepatica, examining the details of the ti

she

derful dinner

g quite specially simple things to ea

ning them," adm

rely new to me; were they to you?

eard of them, I think.

dee

requested Hepatica, a trifle fractiously. "I'm a

delighted,

ried her face in my shoulder. I felt her shaking with smothered laugh

By unanimous consent we went to the evening service of a church where one goes to hear that which is worth hearing,

Skeptic heartily, as we came out. "It seems to

ptic fired up his diminutive gas grate-which is much better than none at all-and turned of

has just left their hospitality," suggested Hepatica, as

We four constitute a private Court of Inquiry into the

comes to refusing to join in the sort

ve it. But living upstairs while my wife lives downs

his head back, gazing up at the ceiling. "What puzzles me," he mused

most attractiv

Skeptic. "They even befuddled me for a few brief hours, a

t mind our recalling his temporary paralysis of intellect?" he questioned Hepatica suddenly. "It was

d drew it over to his knee, where he retained it. "She knows I never

ellia were to lose all their money and had to come down to

ate," said the latter. "Her ideals are a fixed quantity now, to be reckoned with

hopelessly fixed than the fine clothes

thes," said she,

sn't is abnormal. But when we walk down certain streets

n't want the things,

, and the Philosoph

up behind her to see what held such an attraction for her.-It often lets a great light in on a friend's character, if you can see the particular

as it?"

riend the Judge wouldn't have given that wind

paper patterns," guessed the Skep

ceries, more likely,"

ed the Philosopher. "It was a most expensi

, Patty!" cri

to Co