as, and I was feeling
well--whom should I see but these women. They were in a corner by
themselves, looking at a picture, and trying to look as if they were
doing it voluntarily. But I could see at a glance that they didn't
know anybody; and I knew they had better be in the heart of the
Sahara without acquaintances than where they were; and when they bowed
forlornly across the room to me, my heart was in my mouth, I felt so
sorry for them; and I told Alice who they were; and I supposed she'd
want to rush right over to them with me--"

"And did she rush?" asked Boardman, filling up a pause which Mavering
made in wiping his face.

"How infernally hot you have it in here!" He went to the window and
threw it up; and then did not sit down again, but continued to walk back
and forth as he talked. "She didn't seem to know who they were at first,
and when I made her understand she hung back, and said, 'Those showy
things?' and I must say I think she was wrong; they were dressed as
quietly as nine-tenths of the people there; only they are rather large,
handsome women. I said I thought we ought to go and speak to them,
they seemed stranded there; but she didn't seem to see it; and, when
I persisted, she said, 'Well, you go if you think best; but take me to
mamma.' And I supposed it was all right; and I told Mrs. Pasmer I'd
be back in a minute, and then I went off to those women. And after I'd
talked with them a while I saw Mrs. Brinkley sitting with old Bromfield
Corey in another corner, and I got them across and introduced them;
after I'd explained to Mrs. Brinkley who they were; and they began to
have a good time, and I--didn't."

"Just so," said Boardman.

"I thought I hadn't been gone any while at all from Alice; but the
weather had changed by the time I had got back. Alice was pretty
serious, and she was engaged two or three dances deep; and I could see
her looking over the fellows' shoulders, as she went round and round,
pretty pale. I hung about till she was free; but then she couldn't dance
with me; she said her head ached, and she made her mother take her home
before supper; and I mooned round like my own ghost a while, and then
I went home. And as if that wasn't enough, I could see by the looks of
those other women--old Corey forgot Miss Wrayne in the supper-room, and
I had to take her back--that I hadn't made it right with them, even;
they were as hard and smooth as glass. I'd ruined myself, and ruined
myself for