. Senator Hanway himself she was not so ready to approach. He never
mentioned the question of his Presidential hopes and fears, holding to
the position of one who is sought. Under the circumstances, Mrs.
Hanway-Harley felt that it would be gross and forward to force the
subject with her brother, although she was certain that her silence
meant unmeasured loss to him. Mrs. Hanway-Harley was one of those
excellent women whereof it is the good fortune of the world to have such
store, who cherish the knowledge, not always shared by others, that
whatever they touch they benefit and wherever they advise they improve.

"Barbara," said Senator Hanway, on the morning of that day when Richard
meddled so crushingly with Storri's hand, "Barbara, there is a matter in
which you might please me very much."

Mrs. Hanway-Harley looked across the table at her brother, for the four
were at breakfast.

"I promise in advance," said she.

"There is a gentleman," went on Senator Hanway, "I met him for a
moment--a Mr. Gwynn. You ladies know how to arrange these things. I want
to have him--not too large a party, you know--have him meet Gruff and
Stuff and two or three of my Senate friends. He is vastly rich, with
tremendous railway connections. I need not explain; but conditions may
arise that would make Mr. Gywnn prodigiously important--extremely so. I
don't know how you'll manage; he is exceedingly conventional--one of
your highbred English who must be approached just so or they take
alarm. But I'm sure, Barbara, you'll bring the matter about; and I leave
it to you with confidence."

CHAPTER III

HOW MR. GWYNN DINED WITH THE HARLEYS

Any man who says that he is a gentleman is not a gentleman. A gentleman
no more tells you that he is a gentleman than a brave man tells you he
is brave. Gentility is a quality which the possessor never seeks to
establish as his own by word of mouth; he leaves it to inference and the
rule has no exception. This brilliant speechlessness arises not through
modesty, but ignorance. However clearly gentility reveals itself to
others, he who possesses it has no more knowledge on that faultless
point than have your hills of the yellow gold they hold within their
breasts.

Storri was one who went far and frequently out of his conversational way
to assure you that he was a gentleman. Though he did no more than just
recount how he gave his seat to a woman in a car, or passed the salt at
dinner, or made a mo