“They live here?” “In summer--and then only when Fred Fenimer is in funds, and that’s not often. A precarious sort of existence, his--gambling in mining stocks, almost always in wrong. Hard on the daughter--wish some nice fellow would come along and marry her.” “He probably will,” answered Riatt rather coldly. “It’s beginning to snow again.” Ussher had just had his pond swept so that his guests could skate, and now couldn’t imagine what he should provide for them for the afternoon, so that his thoughts were instantly and completely turned from Christine’s problems to his own. At the house they found every one waiting for lunch; Mrs. Almar and Christine chattering together on a window-seat as if they were the most intimate allies; Hickson reading his fourth morning paper, and Mrs. Ussher paying the profoundest attention to something Wickham was saying. She had suddenly wakened to the fact that he was having a wretched time and that he was after all her guest. But he interpreted her actions differently, and supposing that he was at last being appreciated, he had launched fearlessly forth upon the conversational sea. It was this spectacle that had drawn Christine and Nancy together, in their whisperings and giggles in the window. “This perhaps will illustrate my meaning,” he was saying rather loudly: “this is the difference in our outlook on life. If you say ‘she dresses well,’ you intend a compliment, but to me it is just the reverse. The idea is repellent to me that a woman wastes time, thought, money on her vanity, on decking her body--” “One on you, my dear,” whispered Christine. “Isn’t he tiresome?” answered Nancy, shutting her eyes. “I thought he was your selection.” “Nobody’s infallible, my dear. Besides, I telegraphed him not to accept the invitation, but he says he never got my message.” “Why does he think you sent it?” “Because I couldn’t trust myself--” They grinned at each other. With the entrance of Riatt and Ussher they went in to lunch, and there manœuvering for places for the afternoon immediately began. Hickson supposed that by starting early he could secure Christine’s company. So he at once asked her what she was going to do, and before she had time to answer he had suggested that she skate, take a walk, or go sleighing with him. Ussher explained that the skating was spoiled, and Christine under cover of this diversion managed to avoid committing herself.