impolitely gone out
in advance, called out, "Charlie, old boy, come over here and have a
smoke!"

I must confess that these long sittings on the piazzas of summer hotels
had lured me back to my old habits, which I had forsworn in my efforts
to conciliate Bessie's mother. Bessie had encouraged me in it, for to
tell the truth she rather liked the fragrance of a good cigar, and
dearly loved to see me enjoying it. It was my nature to defy the whole
world and be master of my own habits, but I had felt a mean inclination,
after mother-in-law joined the party, to slink away and smoke on the
sly. There was nothing for it now, however, but to put on a bold face,
or play the hypocrite and pretend I didn't smoke. The latter I would
not do, and if I had attempted it, it wouldn't go down with Fred, and I
should have been in a worse predicament than ever. I went boldly across
the piazza and took the proffered cigar. Glancing out at the corner of
my eye as I was lighting it, I saw my mother-in-law regarding me through
her glasses with increased disfavor. She did not, however, seem to be
surprised, and doubtless believed me capable of any perfidy.

"I say, Charlie, old boy, let's have a game of billiards," said Fred,
after a few puffs. "I'll give you twenty points and beat you out of your
boots." Now I was very fond of billiards, and usually didn't care who
knew it, but Mrs. Pinkerton did not approve of the game, and had no
knowledge that I indulged in it. But Fred would speak in that absurd
shouting way of his, and all the ladies heard him. Again I mustered up
resolution and went into the billiard room, but I played very
indifferently, and was thinking all the time of my mother-in-law and her
opinion of me. I really wanted to get into her good graces, but it
required the sacrifice of all my own inclinations, and I despised a man
who deliberately played the hypocrite to win anybody's favor.

After two or three listless games I said to Fred, "I guess I will join
the ladies." I was feeling some qualms of conscience for staying away
from Bessie a whole hour at once.

"Oh, hang the ladies!" was Fred's graceless response; "they can take
care of themselves. My wife gets along well enough without me, I know,
and yours will soon learn to be quite comfortable without your guardian
presence; besides she's got her mother now. By the way, what a mighty
grand old dowager Mrs. Pink is!"

"Pinkerton is her name," I said, a little haughtily, as i