said Quonab, shaking the senator's hand, while Skookum looked
puzzled and depressed.

"Now, remember," said the governor, addressing the Indian, the lad,
and the senator, "we expect you to dine tonight at the mansion; seven
o'clock."

Then the terror of the dragon conventionality, that guards the gate
and hovers over the feast, loomed up in Rolf's imagination. He sought a
private word with Van. "I'm afraid I have no fit clothes; I shan't know
how to behave," he said.

"Then I'll show you. The first thing is to be perfectly clean and get a
shave; put on the best clothes you have, and be sure they're clean; then
you come at exactly seven o'clock, knowing that every one is going to
be kind to you and you're bound to have a good time. As to any other
'funny-do' you watch me, and you'll have no trouble."

So when the seven o'clock assemblage came, and guests were ascending the
steps of the governor's mansion, there also mounted a tall, slim
youth, an easy-pacing Indian, and a prick-eared, yellow dog. Young Van
Cortlandt was near the door, on watch to save them any embarrassment.
But what a swell he looked, cleanshaven, ruddy, tall, and handsome in
the uniform of an American captain, surrounded by friends and immensely
popular. How different it all was from that lonely cabin by the lake.

A butler who tried to remove Skookum was saved from mutilation by the
intervention first of Quonab and next of Van; and when they sat down,
this uncompromising four-legged child of the forest ensconced himself
under Quonab's chair and growled whenever the silk stockings of the
footman seemed to approach beyond the line of true respect.

Young Van Cortlandt was chief talker at the dinner, but a pompous
military man was prominent in the company. Once or twice Rolf was
addressed by the governor or Lady Van Cortlandt, and had to speak to the
whole table; his cheeks were crimson, but he knew what he wanted to say
and stopped when it was said, so suffered no real embarrassment.

After what seemed an interminable feast of countless dishes and hours'
duration, an extraordinary change set in. Led by the hostess, all stood
up, the chairs were lifted out of their way, and the ladies trooped into
another room; the doors were closed, and the men sat down again at the
end next the governor.

Van stayed by Rolf and explained: "This is another social custom that
began with a different meaning. One hundred years ago, every man got
drunk at every fo