Mrs. Miller, t.i.ttering ineffectively: "I shall know what to say to Mr.
Miller after this."
Mrs. Crashaw: "Well, if you haven"t got the man, Mrs. Somers, you _have_ got his picture, haven"t you?"
Mrs. Somers: "Yes; it"s on my writing-desk in the library. Let me--"
Lawton: "No, no; don"t disturb yourself! We wish to tear it to pieces without your embarra.s.sing presence. Will you take my arm, Mrs. Crashaw?"
Mrs. Bemis: "Oh, let us all go and see it!"
Roberts: "Aren"t you coming, Willis?"
Campbell, without looking round: "Thank you, I"ve seen it."
Mrs. Somers, whom the withdrawal of her other guests has left alone with him: "How could you tell such a fib?"
Campbell: "I could tell much worse fibs than that in such a cause."
Mrs. Somers: "What cause?"
Campbell: "A lost one, I"m afraid. Will you answer my question, Amy?"
Mrs. Somers: "Did you ask me any?"
Campbell: "You know I did--before those people came in."
Mrs. Somers: "Oh, _that_! Yes. I should like to ask _you_ a question first."
Campbell: "Twenty, if you like."
Mrs. Somers: "Why do you feel authorized to call me by my first name?"
Campbell: "Because I love you. Now will you answer me?"
Mrs. Somers, dreamily: "I didn"t say I would, did I?"
Campbell, rising, sadly: "No."
Mrs. Somers, mechanically taking the hand he offers her: "Oh! What--"
Campbell: "I"m going; that"s all."
Mrs. Somers: "So soon?"
Campbell: "Yes; but I"ll try to make amends by not coming back soon--or at all."
Mrs. Somers: "You mustn"t!"
Campbell: "Mustn"t what?"
Mrs. Somers: "You mustn"t keep my hand. Here come some more people. Ah, Mrs. Canfield! Miss Bayly! So very nice of you, Mrs. Wharton! Will you have some tea?"
VII
_MRS. CANFIELD, MISS BAYLY, MRS. WHARTON, and the OTHERS_
Mrs. Wharton: "No, thank you. The only objection to afternoon tea is the tea."
Mrs. Somers: "I"m so glad you don"t mind the weather." With her hand on the teapot, glancing up at Miss Bayly: "And do you refuse too?"
Miss Bayly: "I can answer for Mrs. Canfield that _she_ doesn"t, and I _never_ do. _We_ object to the weather."
Mrs. Somers, pouring a cup of tea: "That makes it a little more difficult. I can keep from offering Mrs. Wharton some tea, but I can"t stop its snowing."
Miss Bayly, taking her cup: "But you"re so amiable; we know you would if you could, and that"s quite enough. We"re not the first and only, are we?"
Mrs. Somers: "_Dear_, no! There are mult.i.tudes of flattering spirits in the library, stopping the mouth of my portrait with pretty speeches."
Miss Bayly, vividly: "Not your _Bramford_ portrait?"
Mrs. Somers: "My Bramford _portrait_."
Miss Bayly, to the other ladies: "Oh, let us go and see it too!" They flutter out of the drawing-room, where Mrs. Somers and Campbell remain alone together as before. He continues silent, while she waits for him to speak.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "MRS. SOMERS, POURING A CUP OF TEA: "THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT""]
VIII
_MRS. SOMERS; MR. CAMPBELL_
Mrs. Somers, finally: "Well?"
Campbell: "Well, what?"
Mrs. Somers: "Nothing. Only I thought you were--you were going to--"
Campbell: "No; I"ve got nothing to say."
Mrs. Somers: "I didn"t mean that. I thought you were going to--go." She puts up her hand and hides a triumphant little smile with it.
Campbell: "Very well, then, I"ll go, since you wish it." He holds out his hand.