Mrs. Ruthven exasperated, "will you ever acquire the
elements of reticence? I don't know why people endure you; I don't,
indeed! And they won't much longer--"

"Yes, they will, dear; that's what society is for--a protective
association for the purpose of enduring impossible people. . . . I
wish," she added, "that it included husbands, because in some sets it's
getting to be one dreadful case of who's whose. Don't you think so?"

Alixe, externally calm but raging inwardly, sat pulling on her gloves,
heartily sorry she had lunched with Rosamund.

The latter, already gloved, had risen and was coolly surveying the room.

"_Tiens!_" she said, "there is the youthful brother of our red-haired
novice, now. He sees us and he's coming to inflict himself--with another
moon-faced creature. Shall we bolt?"

Alixe turned and stared at Gerald, who came up boyishly red and
impetuous:

"How d'ye do, Mrs. Ruthven; did you get my note? How d'ye do, Mrs. Fane;
awf'fly jolly to collide this way. Would you mind if--"

"You," interrupted Rosamund, "ought to be _down_town--unless you've
concluded to retire and let Wall Street go to smash. What are you
pretending to do in Sherry's at this hour, you very dreadful infant?"

"I've been lunching with Mr. Neergard--and _would_ you mind--"

"Yes, I would," began Rosamund, promptly, but Alixe interrupted: "Bring
him over, Gerald." And as the boy thanked her and turned back:

"I've a word to administer to that boy, Rosamund, so attack the Neergard
creature with moderation, please. You owe me _that_ at least."

"No, I don't!" said Rosamund, disgusted; "I _won't_ be afflicted with
a--"

"Nobody wants you to be too civil to him, silly! But Gerald is in his
office, and I want Gerald to do something for me. Please, Rosamund."

"Oh, well, if you--"

"Yes, I do. Here he is now; and _don't_ be impossible and frighten him,
Rosamund."

The presentation of Neergard was accomplished without disaster to
anybody. On his thin nose the dew glistened, and his thick fat hands
were hot; but Rosamund was too bored to be rude to him, and Alixe turned
immediately to Gerald:

"Yes, I did get your note, but I'm not at home on Tuesday. Can't you
come--wait a moment!--what are you doing this afternoon?"

"Why, I'm going back to the office with Mr. Neergard--"

"Nonsense! Oh, Mr. Neergard, _would_ you mind"--very sweetly--"if Mr.
Erroll did not go to the office this afternoon?"

Neergard looked at her--al