ernity was really eternity, there
was exactly as much time coming as had passed. In any event no
well-regulated New England mind would permit itself to become disturbed
over so small a matter.

Smith, guessing perhaps something of this from his companion's placid
face, felt a momentary embarrassment at his own impatience.

"I've an engagement at ten o'clock," he remarked, somewhat
apologetically, to his conservative neighbor. "Do you suppose this
train is going to let me keep it?"

The gentleman addressed cautiously expressed the opinion that if no
further malign influences were felt, and the train were presently to
start, the remainder of the journey would occupy comparatively little
time.

And so in due course it came to pass as the elderly Bostonian had
predicted, clearly proving--if Smith had been open to accept
proof--that the Oriental method of reasoning is the most comfortable,
whatever may be said of its efficiency. He had left home at eleven on
the night before, and he arrived at the offices of Silas Osgood and
Company, 175 Kilby Street, at exactly half an hour before eleven in the
morning.

The exercise of walking up from the South Station, although the walk
was a short one, had wholly dispelled the irritation of the delay, so
that his smile was as genuine as ever when Mr. Silas Osgood held out
his courtly hand in welcome It would have been a very bitter mood that
could have withstood the Bostonian's greeting.

"We were looking for you a little earlier in the morning," he said,
when the first greetings were over. "You come so seldom nowadays that
we feel you ought to come as early as possible."

Smith laughed.

"If you'd said that to me when I had been waiting two hours somewhere
just the other side of North, East, West, or South Newton, I would have
probably snarled like a dyspeptic terrier. Now, seeing you, sir, I can
blandly reply that I came via Springfield and that the train was a
trifle late."

"Exceedingly courteous, I am sure, for one not a native," agreed the
other, smiling. "I am advised that the train has been known to be
delayed."

"Well, I'm here now, anyway," Smith rejoined, "and very glad to be. It
must be six weeks since I saw the good old gilded dome on the hill, and
six weeks seems a long time--or would, if they didn't keep me pretty
busy at the other end."

The two men were by this time in Mr. Osgood's private office, and the
closing door shut out the click of typewri