Charles averted his eyes. This simple fool's quick response to the "putting on" treatment almost passed belief. Unquestionably, Donald was far more receptive to feminine influences now, than he had been in his industrious pre-Wyoming days; again, mere use, mere custom and propinquity, were famous for accomplishing just these wonders. Still, Charles's philosophic overmind, contrasting this grin on Donald's face with that unflattering remark of his last November, threw out a different concept, viz.: that perseverance in a woman is a marvelous thing. But the hope, though it shot up delightfully, was a thin one yet. Dull Donald went on knowingly:-- "But speaking of the competition, what's happened to you, old horse?" "How do you mean, happened to me?" "Your little friend says you used to meet her nearly every day for a drive, but now you haven't been seen for days. I told her you'd probably changed your hours a little, as I'd seen you at lunch earlier than--" "You did?" said the author, looking at the engineer with unconcealed annoyance. "Well, you were mistaken, that's all! You had no business to say anything of the sort. Of course, my hours may vary a little--in fact, they vary a good deal. Great heavens, I--" "Well, don't get peevish about it!--friendly tip I'm giving you, that's all. She thinks you're mad with her--do you get me? Says you've never forgiven her for something she said to you once--some misunderstanding you had--you know, I guess--" "Why, damnation, we never _had_ any misunderstanding! I'm _busy_! I don't undertake to start to lunch at a certain particular second--" "Well, don't tell it to me!" said Donald, cheerfully. "Trot along and explain it to her, that's the way.--I say, Charlie--change the subject--did I tell you what old Gebhardt said to me the first day we looked over the plans? About my concrete bridge over Sankey River?" And then the childish egotistical youth was off. It seemed, indeed, that the monologue ensuing was what he had come for; it seemed that he had dressed himself one hour too early for the German with just this most agreeable of all purposes in his mind: to sit and have a good long talk about himself. Charles received his boastings with restless boredom, marking meaninglessly on the pad before him, moodily biding his time. He could have kicked Donald for his stupidity in mentioning his trifling change of hours; but of course his need was to get the conversation back to Angela quietly, without arousing the slightest suspicion. His need was that Donald should agree to give Angela regular lessons in driving the Fordette, every day through the lunch-hour. But Donald, happening to note the face of Big Bill, came suddenly to his feet: and then, as suddenly, gave the talk an unlooked-for turn. "I say, Charlie! How about you and old Blenso for the Wings' apartment?" Charles's head came slowly round. "How about what?" "Dashed sight more comfortable than up your two flights here!"