"As lovely and as kind as ever," he responded. "Ah, when I remember those days, when I was young, and you were just as you are now--" "Old, that is." "Oh, no; young, always young as when I knew you first. When I was at your feet with love, and your countryman was my rival--" Mrs. Neligage began to look as if she found the tables being turned, and that she had no more wish to have the past brought up than had the Count. She turned away from her companion. Then she looked back over her shoulder to observe, still in French, as she left him:-- "I make it a point never to remember those days, my friend." VI THE MISCHIEF OF A WIDOW There were now but ten guests left, the persons who have been named, and who seemed for the most part to be lingering to observe the Count or Alice Endicott. May Calthorpe had all the afternoon kept near Alice, and only left her place when the sopping up of the Count's tea made it necessary for her to move. Mrs. Harbinger took her by the arm, and looked into her face scrutinizingly. "Well," she asked, "did your unknown author come?" "Nobody has come with a carnation. Oh, I am so disappointed!" "I am glad of it, my dear." "But he said he would come if I'd give him a sign, and I wrote to him while I was waiting for you yesterday." "So you told me." "Well," May echoed dolefully; "I think you might be more sympathetic." "What did you do with the letter?" asked Mrs. Harbinger. "I gave it to Graham to post." "Then very likely no harm is done. Graham never in his life posted a letter under two days." "Oh, do you think so?" May asked, brightening visibly at the suggestion. "You don't think he despised me, and wouldn't come?" Mrs. Harbinger gave her a little shake. "You hussy!" she exclaimed, with too evident an enjoyment of the situation to be properly severe. "How was it addressed?" "Just to Christopher Calumus, in care of the publishers." "Well, my dear," the hostess declared, "your precious epistle is probably in the butler's pantry now; or one of the maids has picked it up from the kitchen floor. I warn you that if I can find it I shall read it." "Oh, you wouldn't!" exclaimed May in evident distress. "Um! Wouldn't I, though? The way you take the suggestion shows that it's time somebody looked into your correspondence with this stranger." May opened her lips to protest again, but the voice of Graham was heard announcing Mr. Barnstable, and Mrs. Harbinger turned to greet the late-coming stranger. The gentleman's hair had apparently been scrubbed into sleekness, but had here and there broken through the smooth outer surface as the stuffing of an old cushion breaks through slits in the covering. His face was red, and his air full of self-consciousness. When he entered the drawing-room Mr. Harbinger was close behind him, but the latter stopped to speak with Bradish and Mrs. Neligage, and Barnstable advanced alone to where Mrs. Harbinger stood with May just behind her.