ly nodded three
times but waved her hat, and I arose, having now finished my dinner.

William came stealthily toward me. "Her temperature has gone down, sir,"
he said, rubbing his hands together.

"To whom are you referring?" I asked coldly, and retired to the
billiard-room, where I played a capital game.

I took pains to show William that I had forgotten his maunderings, but
I observed the girl nightly, and once, instead of nodding, she shook her
head, and that evening I could not get into a pocket. Next evening
there was no William in the dining-room, and I thought I knew what had
happened. But, chancing to enter the library rather miserably, I
was surprised to see him on a ladder dusting books. We had the room
practically to ourselves, for though several members sat on chairs
holding books in their hands they were all asleep, and William descended
the ladder to tell me his blasting tale. He had sworn at a member!

"I hardly knew what I was doing all day, sir, for I had left her so
weakly that--"

I stamped my foot.

"I beg your pardon for speaking of her," he had the grace to say. "But
Irene had promised to come every two hours; and when she came about
four o'clock and I saw she was crying, it sort of blinded me, sir, and
I stumbled against a member, Mr. B----, and he said, 'Damn you!' Well,
sir, I had but touched him after all, and I was so broken it sort of
stung me to be treated so and I lost my senses, and I said, 'Damn you!'"

His shamed head sank on his chest, and I think some of the readers
shuddered in their sleep.

"I was turned out of the dining-room at once, and sent here until the
committee have decided what to do with me. Oh, sir, I am willing to go
on my knees to Mr. B----"

How could I but despise a fellow who would be thus abject for a pound a
week?

"For if I have to tell her I have lost my place she will just fall back
and die."

"I forbid your speaking to me of that woman," I cried wryly, "unless you
can speak pleasantly," and I left him to his fate and went off to
look for B----. "What is this story about your swearing at one of the
waiters?" I asked him.

"You mean about his swearing at me," said B----, reddening.

"I am glad that was it," I said, "for I could not believe you guilty of
such bad form. The version which reached me was that you swore at each
other, and that he was to be dismissed and you reprimanded."

"Who told you that?" asked B----, who is a timid man.

"I am