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