in concealing his
boredom, and he more than once caught himself upon the verge of actual
discourtesy, because of his tendency to become absent-minded and let the
merry-making flow by him without taking part in it.

Altogether, it was with a strong sense of relief and freedom that he at
last escaped from what had seemed to him an interminable period of
captivity to the uncongenial moods and manners of other people. He
opened the door of his rooms with a sense of having returned to a place
where he could be himself--his new self--that strange new self who
singularly failed to enjoy the companionship of those who had once
seemed the most satisfying of comrades.

The first thing upon which his eager glance fell was the bunch of
scarlet rose haws under the softly illumining radiance of the
drop-light. His eyes lighted, his lips broke into a smile--the lips
which had found it, all evening, so hard to smile with anything
resembling spontaneity.

Hat in hand, he addressed his treasure: "I've come back to stay with
you!" he said.

CHAPTER VI

UNSUSTAINED APPLICATION

"Mr. Kendrick, do you understand typewriting?"

Judge Gray's assistant looked up, a slight surprise on his face. "No,
sir, I do not," he said.

"I am sorry. These sheets I am sending to the Capitol to be looked over
and criticised ought to be typewritten. I could send them downtown, but
I want the typist here at my elbow."

He sat frowning a little with perplexity, and presently he reached for
the telephone. Then he put it down, his brow clearing. "This is
Saturday," he murmured. "If Roberta is at home--"

He left the room. In five minutes he was back, his niece beside him.
Richard Kendrick had not set eyes upon her for a fortnight; he rose at
her appearance and stood waiting her recognition. She gave it, stopping
to offer him her hand as she passed him, smiling. But, this little
ceremony over, she became on the instant the business woman. Richard saw
it all, though he did his best to settle down to his work again and
pursue it with an air of absorption.

Roberta went to a cupboard which opened from under bookshelves, and drew
therefrom a small portable typewriter. This she set upon a table beside
a window at right angles from Richard and all of twenty feet away from
him; she could hardly have put a greater distance between them. The
Judge drew up a chair for her; she removed the cover from the compact
little machine, and nodded at him. He pl