Mrs. Smith does not
receive on days particularized. He was compelled to wait in the parlor
but a moment. She came in, and he saw her for the first time in two
years.

What a gift women have in producing physical effects upon the creature
male, no matter what the woman's status. Mrs. Rolfston came in with a
look of half inquiry on her face and with a presentation of herself
which was perfect in its way. She wore some soft and fluffy dress--a
man cannot describe a garb in detail--with that lace-surrounded
triangular bareness upon the bosom just below the chin which is as
irreproachable as it is telling. There was a relation between the
swing of her drapery and, the movements of her body. She was rich of
figure, and flexile. And she was glad to see Mr. Harlson, and said so.
He was not really embarrassed. The time had passed when that could be
his way. But he was puzzled as to what to say. Some comment he made
upon the quality of the season and upon Mrs. Rolfston's appearance of
good health. Then he entered upon his subject with no link of
connection with preceding sentences. "I but learned to-day," he said,
"that the tie I wear was made by you. All fellows have little fancies,
I suppose. I have, anyhow. I liked this, though I did not know who
made it. My sister told me, and I have come to thank you. Why did you
do it for me?"

That was putting the case plainly enough, certainly, and promptly
enough, but it was not of a nature to trouble Mrs. Rolfston. This was
a clever woman, married ten years, and of experiences which varied.
She even glanced over the visitor from head to heel before she
answered, and her color deepened and her eyes brightened, though he did
not note it.

"You have changed," she commented. "I should hardly have known you but
for your lips and eyes. You are broader and taller, and a big man, are
you not? How long do you stay in town? Will you spend the summer
here?"

"I wish I could," he answered. "It is pleasant here, but I must work,
you know. I may idle for a little time. You haven't said anything
about the tie."

"Oh, the tie? Don't speak of that. I had the whim to make something
for somebody--I have an embroidering mania on me sometimes--and there
was a chance to dispose of it, you see."

The young man's face fell a little as he looked upon the great,
handsome woman and heard her seemingly careless words. He did not want
to go away, yet what excuse was there for s