ch whose columns stood out
at the angle of the street; he looked at the graveyard opposite that,
then at the stale, dusty shop of old furniture, and then up the shabby
street, where no life or movement was to be seen, except the distant
forms of Beverly and Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael. Then from a gold
cigar-case, curved to fit his breast pocket, he took a cigar and lighted
it from a gold match-box. Offering none of us a cigar, he placed the
case again in his pocket; and holding his lighted cigar a moment with
two fingers in his strong glove, he spoke:--

"This town's worse than Sunday."

Then he got into the automobile. They all followed to see Charley off,
and he addressed me.

"I shall be glad," he said, "if you will make one of a little party
on the yacht next Sunday, when I come back. And you also," he added to
John.

Both John and I expressed our acceptance in suitable forms, and the
automobile took its way to the train.

"Your Kings Port streets," I said, as we walked back toward Mrs.
Trevise's, "are not very favorable for automobiles."

"No," he returned briefly. I don't remember that either of us found more
to say until we had reached my front door, when he asked, "Will the day
after to-morrow suit you for Udolpho?"

"Whenever you say," I told him.

"Weather permitting, of course. But I hope that it will; for after that
I suppose my time will not be quite so free."

After we had parted it struck me that this was the first reference to
his approaching marriage that John had ever made in my hearing since
that day long ago (it seemed long ago, at least) when he had come to the
Exchange to order the wedding-cake, and Eliza La Heu had fallen in love
with him at sight. That, in my opinion, looking back now with eyes at
any rate partially opened, was what Eliza had done. Had John returned
the compliment then, or since?

XIX: Udolpho

It was to me continuously a matter of satisfaction and of interest to
see Hortense disturbed--whether for causes real or imaginary--about
the security of her title to her lover John, nor can I say that my
misinterpreted bunch of roses diminished this satisfaction. I should
have been glad to know if the accomplished young woman had further
probed that question and discovered the truth, but it seemed scarce
likely that she could do this without the help of one of three persons,
Eliza and myself who knew all, or John who knew nothing; for the
up-country bride, and whatever