es as well as a man
about five-feet-eleven and a half can. Those long, gangling men, they're
nearly always too kind of wormy to be any good in athletics, and they're
so awkward they keep falling over chairs or--"

"Mr. Pembroke is in the army," said Lucy primly. "He's extraordinarily
graceful."

"In the army? Oh, I suppose he's some old friend of your father's."

"They got on very well," she said, "after I introduced them."

George was a straightforward soul, at least. "See here!" he said. "Are
you engaged to anybody?"

"No."

Not wholly mollified, he shrugged his shoulders. "You seem to know a
good many people! Do you live in New York?"

"No. We don't live anywhere."

"What you mean: you don't live anywhere?"

"We've lived all over," she answered. "Papa used to live here in this
town, but that was before I was born."

"What do you keep moving around so for? Is he a promoter?"

"No. He's an inventor."

"What's he invented?"

"Just lately," said Lucy, "he's been working on a new kind of horseless
carriage."

"Well, I'm sorry for him," George said, in no unkindly spirit. "Those
things are never going to amount to anything. People aren't going to
spend their lives lying on their backs in the road and letting grease
drip in their faces. Horseless carriages are pretty much a failure, and
your father better not waste his time on 'em."

"Papa'd be so grateful," she returned, "if he could have your advice."

Instantly George's face became flushed. "I don't know that I've done
anything to be insulted for!" he said. "I don't see that what I said was
particularly fresh."

"No, indeed!"

"Then what do you--"

She laughed gaily. "I don't! And I don't mind your being such a lofty
person at all. I think it's ever so interesting--but papa's a great
man!"

"Is he?" George decided to be good-natured "Well, let us hope so. I hope
so, I'm sure."

Looking at him keenly, she saw that the magnificent youth was incredibly
sincere in this bit of graciousness. He spoke as a tolerant, elderly
statesman might speak of a promising young politician; and with her
eyes still upon him, Lucy shook her head in gentle wonder. "I'm just
beginning to understand," she said.

"Understand what?"

"What it means to be a real Amberson in this town. Papa told me
something about it before we came, but I see he didn't say half enough!"

George superbly took this all for tribute. "Did your father say he knew
the family before he lef