's mind, and seeking to
lighten it a bit, she volunteered:

"Captain Claybrook is going to help us put the tea room across. He was
one of our best little patrons in Camp Taylor."

Claybrook looked self-conscious; Joe even more embarrassed. And
suddenly a strange look crossed her face and she broke off her
explanation. Joe turned and looked in the direction toward which she
was staring wide-eyed.

And across the room, weaving through the labyrinth of tables and
bearing straight down upon them, came a strange apparition. With
unsteady gait, his hand stretched out in caution before him and a
watery smile upon his lips, came Uncle Buzz. An incongruously
picturesque figure amidst smartness and glitter. His head was as sleek
as ever and he had waxed the tips of his moustaches so that they stuck
out jauntily as did the tips of his black bow tie. But his jacket was
short and rusty and in need of pressing, of which fact he seemed
blissfully unaware. For, having sighted them, he was coming on
steadfastly, past pitfalls that yawned, with a smile upon his face.

Joe felt a peculiar exulting glow pass over him, whether at the sight
of a familiar, friendly face or for some less creditable reason.
Distress was plainly written on the face of Mary Louise. Claybrook
talked on, unconscious of what was coming.

And then Mr. Mosby drew up alongside and favoured them with an
elaborate bow from the centre of the aisle. A hurrying waiter, being
thus perilously presented with an unexpected hazard, made a desperate
swerve in mid-flight and menaced an adjoining table with the contents
of his tray. A glass crashed, a woman shrieked, and Uncle Buzz
serenely proceeded.

"Don't get up. Pray, don't get up," he said to Joe and Claybrook. "Saw
you from the door and merely came to pay my respects. Miss Mary
Louise, we miss you in the old town." He turned to her gracefully, and
Joe could catch the faint aroma of Bourbon, thus immediately
accounting to his own satisfaction for the easy poise and manner. Mary
Louise was lost. She watched Claybrook, who seemed amused, and Uncle
Buzz went on, turning his attention to Joe. "And by the way, Joseph,
if you can arrange to, your Aunt Loraine and I would like for you to
spend Saturday and Sunday with us."

Joe knew how much his Aunt Loraine would subscribe to this courtesy.
It meant work to do, that was all. But he was amused, felt singularly
light-hearted instead of embarrassed. Who can say he was deprave