ance at his
visitors' dress had already told him that he could dispense with the
formality of changing for dinner. Shaking hands with Virginia, he said
in his usual hearty fashion:

"Well, how are you? I'm so sorry I am late. Oku explained, didn't he?"

"Perfectly," smiled Virginia. "He took good care of us."

Turning to Fanny, he said:

"This, I presume, is your sister--"

Virginia hastened to make introductions:

"Fanny," she said, "let me introduce Mr. Stafford."

The host bowed and smiled pleasantly, while Fanny, embarrassed, not
knowing whether to offer her hand, felt awkward and ill at ease, as do
most people who, going seldom into society, are not in constant
practice with its civilities.

"I'm very pleased, indeed, to meet you, Miss Blaine," said Stafford,
bowing.

"And this," went on Virginia, turning to her brother-in-law elect, who
stood gaping in the background, "is Mr. Gillie--just 'Jimmie' we call
him, don't we, Fanny?"

"Yes--Jimmie--of course," stammered Fanny, blushing furiously.

Stafford held out his hand and gave the shipping clerk a grip that
made him wince.

"How do you do, Mr. Gillie?"

"How are you?" returned Jimmie with an indifferent nod as he nursed
his crushed fingers behind his back.

Stafford beamed good-naturedly on all three. He looked genuinely glad
to see them, and this immediately set his guests at their ease. He may
not have really felt the cordial welcome he gave them, but he looked
as if they were just the people whose society he enjoyed most, a happy
knack which some men possess of adapting themselves to their
environments, and which had always been the secret of his popularity
with men and women both. His manner was so natural, so free from
restraint and pose, that even Fanny, timid and nervous as she was,
felt reassured.

But while he was affable with all, he had eyes only for Virginia. The
others he would willingly have dispensed with, especially the shipping
clerk, whom he had sized up with one quick glance. He winced as he
took note of the man's cheap, ready-made clothes and boorish manners.
Decidedly he was quite impossible, but for the pleasure of a few
moment's _tete-a-tete_ with Virginia, he was ready to make any
sacrifice--even to meet on equal social terms a Mr. Gillie.

"Are you quite sure," he went on apologetically, "that I am forgiven
for keeping you waiting? Believe me, it was absolutely unavoidable or
it wouldn't have happened."

"Oh, yes,"