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thoughts； but that I dismissed。 To die on account of Hortense！ Such a thing was not to be conceived。 And yet； given a high…strung nature； not only trapped by its own standards； but also wrought upon during many days by increasing exasperation and unhappiness while helpless in the trap； and with no other outlook but the trap： the chill import returned to me more than once； and was reasoned away； as； with no attention to my surroundings； I took a pair of oars； and got into a boat belonging to the lodge； and rowed myself slowly among the sluggish windings of Tern Creek。
Whence come those thoughts that we ourselves feel shame at？ It shamed me now； as I pulled my boat along； that I should have thoughts of John which needed banishing。 What tale would this be to remember of a boy's life； that he gave it to buy freedom from a pledge which need never have been binding？ What pearl was this to cast before the sophisticated Hortense？ Such act would be robbed of its sadness by its absurdity。 Yet； surely； the bitterest tragedies are those of which the central anguish is lost amid the dust of surrounding paltriness。 If such a thing should happen here； no one but myself would have seen the lonely figure of John Mayrant； standing by the window and looking out into the dark quiet of the wood； his name would be passed down for a little while as the name of a fool； and then he would be forgotten。 〃I believe that you will help your friend。〃 Yes； he had certainly written that； and it now came to me that I might have said to him one thing more： Had he given Hortense the chance to know what his feelings to her had become？ But he would merely have answered that here it was the duty of a gentleman to lie。 Or； had he possibly； at Newport； ever become her lover too much for any escaping now？ Had his dead passion once put his honor in a pawn which only marriage could redeem？ This might fit all that had come； so far； and still； with such a two as they； I should forever hold the boy the woman's victim。 But this did not fit what came after。 Perhaps it was the late sitting of the night before； and the hushed and strange solitude of my surroundings now； that had laid my mind open to all these thoughts which my reason； in dealing with； answered continually； one by one； yet which returned； requiring to be answered again； for there are times when our uncomfortable eyes see through the appearances we have arranged for daily life； into the actualities which lie forever behind them。
Going about thus in my boat； I rowed sleepiness into myself； and pushed into a nook where shade from some thick growth hid the boat and me from the sun； and there； almost enmeshed in the deep lattice of green； I placed my coat beneath my head； and prone in the boat's bottom I drifted into slumber。 Once or twice my oblivion was pierced by the roaming honk of the automobile； but with no more than the half…melted consciousness that the Replacers were somewhere in the wood； oblivion closed over me again； and when it altogether left me； it was because of voices near me on the water； or on the bank。 Their calls and laughter pushed themselves into my drowsiness； and soon after I grew aware that the Replacers were come here to see what was to be seen at Udolphothe club； the old church； a country place with a fine avenueand that it was the church they now couldn't get into； because my visit had disturbed the usual whereabouts of the key； of which Gazza was now going in search。 I could have told him where to find it； but it pleased me not to disturb myself for this； as I listened to him assuring Kitty that it was probably in the cabin beyond the bridge； but not to be alarmed if he did not immediately return with it。 Kitty； not without audible mirth； assured him that they should not be alarmed at all； to which the voice of Hortense supplemented； 〃Not at all。〃 They were evidently in a boat； which Hortense herself was rowing； and which she seemed to bring to the bank； where I gathered that Kitty got out and sat while Hortense remained in the boat。 There was the little talk and movement which goes with borrowing of a cigarette； a little exclamation about not falling out； accompanied by the rattle of a displaced oar； and then stillness； and the smell of tobacco smoke。
Presently Kitty spoke。 〃Charley will be back to…night。〃
To this I heard no reply。
〃What did his telegram say？〃 Kitty inquired； after another silence。
〃It's all right。〃 This was Hortense。 Her slow； rich murmur was as deliberate as always。
〃Mr。 Bohm knew it would be；〃 said Kitty。 〃He said it wouldn't take five minutes' talk from Charley to get a contract worth double what they were going to accept。〃
After this； nothing came to me for several minutes； save the odor of the cigarettes。
Of course there was now but one proper course for me； namely； to utter a discreet cough； and thus warn them that some one was within earshot。 But I didn't！ I couldn't！ Strength failed； curiosity won； my baser nature triumphed here； and I deliberately remained lying quiet and hidden。 It was the act of no gentleman； you will say。 Well； it was； and I must simply confess to it； hoping that I am not the only gentleman in the world who has； on occasion； fallen beneath himself。
〃Hortense Rieppe；〃 began Kitty； 〃what do you intend to say to my brother after what he has done about those phosphates？〃
〃He is always so kind；〃 murmured Hortense。
〃Well； you know what it means。〃
〃Means？〃
〃If you persist in this folly； you'll drop out。〃
Hortense chose another line of speculation。 〃I wonder why your brother is so sure of me？〃
〃Charley is a set man。 And I've never seen him so set on anything as on you； Hortense Rieppe。〃
〃He is always so kind；〃 murmured Hortense again。
〃He's a man you'll always know just where to find；〃 declared Kitty。 〃Charley is safe。 He'll never take you by surprise； never fly out； never do what other people don't do； never make any one stare at him by the way he looks； or the way he acts； or anything he says； ororwhy； how you can hesitate between those two men after that ridiculous； childish； conspicuous； unusual scene on the bridge〃
〃Unusual。 Yes；〃 said Hortense。
Kitty's eloquence and voice mounted together。 〃I should think it was unusual！ Tearing people's money up； and making a rude； awkward fuss that everybody had to smooth over as hard as they could！ Why； even Mr。 Rodgers says that sort of thing isn't done； and you're always saying he knows。〃
〃No；〃 said Hortense。 〃It isn't done。〃
〃Well； I've never seen anything approaching such behavior in our set。 And he was ready to go further。 Nobody knows where it might have gone to； if Charley's perfect coolness hadn't rebuked him and brought him to his senses。 There's where it is； that's what I mean； Hortense； by saying you could always feel safe with Charley。〃
Hortense put in a languid word。 〃I think I should always feel safe with Mr。 Mayrant。〃
But Kitty was a simple soul。 〃Indeed you couldn't； Hortense！ I assure you that you're mistaken。 There's where you get so wrong about men sometimes。 I have been studying that boy for your sake ever since we got here； and I know him through and through。 And I tell you； you cannot count upon him。 He has not been used to our ways； and I see no promise of his getting used to them。 He will stay capable of outbreaks like that horrid one on the bridge。 Wherever you take him； wherever you put him； no matter how much you show him of us； and the way we don't allow conspicuous things like that to occur； believe me； Hortense； he'll never learn； he'll never smooth down。 You may brush his hair flat and keep him appearing like other people for a while； but a time will come； something will happen； and that boy'll be conspicuous。 Charley would never be conspicuous。〃
〃No；〃 assented Hortense。
Kitty urged her point。 〃Why； I never saw or beard of anything like that on the bridgethat is； amongamongus！〃
〃No；〃 assented Hortense； again； and her voice dropped lower with each statement。 〃One always sees the same thing。 Always hears the same thing。 Always the same thing。〃 These last almost inaudible words sank away into the silent pool of Hortense's meditation。
〃Have another cigarette；〃 said Kitty。 〃You've let yours fall into the water。〃
I heard them moving a little； and then they must have resumed their seats。
〃You'll drop out of it；〃 Kitty now pursued。
〃Into what shall I drop？〃
〃Just being asked to the big things everybody goes to and nobody counts。 For even with the way Charley has arranged about the phosphates； it will not be enough to keep you in our swimjust by itself。 He'll weigh more than his money； because he'll stay differenttoo different。〃
〃He was not so different last summer。〃
〃Because he was not there long enough； my dear。 He learned bridge
quickly； and of course he had seen champagne before； and nobody had time to notice him。 But he'll be married now and they will notice him； and they won't want him。 To think of your dropping out！〃 Kitty became very earnest。 〃To think of not seeing you among us！ You'll be in none of the small things； you'll never be asked to stay at the smart houseswhy； not even your name will be in the paper！ Not a foreigner you entertain； not a dinner you give； not a thing you wea