ent wines to the
different dishes; Dryfoos was apt to substitute a costlier wine where he
could for a cheaper one, and he gave Frescobaldi carte blanche for the
decoration of the table with pieces of artistic confectionery. Among
these the caterer designed one for a surprise to his patron and a
delicate recognition of the source of his wealth, which he found Dryfoos
very willing to talk about, when he intimated that he knew what it was.

Dryfoos left it to Fulkerson to invite the guests, and he found ready
acceptance of his politeness from Kendricks, who rightly regarded the
dinner as a part of the 'Every Other Week' business, and was too sweet
and kind-hearted, anyway, not to seem very glad to come. March was
a matter of course; but in Colonel Woodburn, Fulkerson encountered a
reluctance which embarrassed him the more because he was conscious of
having, for motives of his own, rather strained a point in suggesting
the colonel to Dryfoos as a fit subject for invitation. There had been
only one of the colonel's articles printed as yet, and though it had
made a sensation in its way, and started the talk about that number,
still it did not fairly constitute him a member of the staff, or even
entitle him to recognition as a regular contributor. Fulkerson felt so
sure of pleasing him with Dryfoos's message that he delivered it in full
family council at the widow's. His daughter received it with all the
enthusiasm that Fulkerson had hoped for, but the colonel said, stiffly,
"I have not the pleasure of knowing Mr. Dryfoos." Miss Woodburn appeared
ready to fall upon him at this, but controlled herself, as if aware that
filial authority had its limits, and pressed her lips together without
saying anything.

"Yes, I know," Fulkerson admitted. "But it isn't a usual case. Mr.
Dryfoos don't go in much for the conventionalities; I reckon he don't
know much about 'em, come to boil it down; and he hoped"--here Fulkerson
felt the necessity of inventing a little--"that you would excuse any
want of ceremony; it's to be such an informal affair, anyway; we're all
going in business dress, and there ain't going to be any ladies. He'd
have come himself to ask you, but he's a kind of a bashful old fellow.
It's all right, Colonel Woodburn."

"I take it that it is, sir," said the colonel, courteously, but with
unabated state, "coming from you. But in these matters we have no right
to burden our friends with our decisions."

"Of course, of cou