to fall to me in the final disposition
of the guests at Hepatica's table, and inquired what he was like.

"He's delightful," replied Hepatica enthusiastically. "You'll be sure to
like him. He lost his wife about five years ago, but hasn't re-married,
and lives mostly at his club, as he has no children. He's devoted to his
work, and has a good, big reputation, though he's still in the early
forties."

Hepatica would not tell me what she meant to have for her dinner, but on
the appointed day shut herself up in her kitchen with a young woman whom
she had engaged, and would allow me only to set her table for her. As I
laid the required number of forks and spoons I realized that she meant
to be true to her word and serve a quite simple dinner. For this I was
thankful. For some reason, which I could not just understand myself, I
was dreading that dinner more than anything that had happened for a long
time.

The evening came. I dressed without enthusiasm, putting on the pale-gray
frock which Hepatica had insisted upon, and pinning on a bunch of
violets which arrived for me at almost the last moment, without any card
in the box. Hepatica had three magnificent red roses at the same time.
It was like the Skeptic to be so thoughtful.

The guests arrived--Camellia superbly attired, Althea gorgeously so,
Dahlia in youthful pink and white, Azalea in a demurely simple dress
whose laces were just a thought rumpled about the neck, and had to be
straightened out by my assisting fingers. Little Bud, she explained, had
insisted on hugging her violently at the last moment, before he would
allow her to come away.

Wistaria came last, so that, as we all stood grouped about the little
rooms I had a fine chance to see her arrival. She had to go through the
room in which we were to reach Hepatica's bedroom, and I saw a tall and
graceful figure, all in black under a white evening cloak, and caught a
glimpse of a pair of brilliant dark eyes under the white silken scarf
which enveloped her hair. But when she came out, in Hepatica's company,
I saw, undisguised, one of the most attractive women I had ever met.

"She's unusual, isn't she?" said the Skeptic in my ear, as, having
welcomed the new guest, and watched Hepatica present her to me, he fell
back at my side. Wistaria had greeted the Philosopher with the quiet
warmth of manner which means assured acquaintance, and the two had
remained together while we waited for the serving of the dinner.