But the friend did not look at him, he was gazing bewildered at Missy. The familiarity and complete at-home-ness of the whole party made him doubt his senses. It was bad enough to see the women so at ease, though he could believe anything of them. But Andrews evidently liked it, and was pleased with all the liberties they took. It was impossible to account for the state of things by any theory but that of brain disorder. How he got through the rest of the dinner, Missy never quite knew. He had no one to pour out glasses of water for him, and put the wine within reach, for she quite washed her hands of him and sent Gabrielle to take her place, while Mr. Andrews took Gabrielle's; and Missy remained to carve. When they came out from the dinner-table, Mrs. Varian went up stairs, and Missy went into the parlor to gather up some of her aunt's things, of which there were always plenty to gather up. The two gentlemen went on the piazza. She heard them talking as they sat down beside the window, and prepared to smoke. "I must say, Andrews--" "Yes." "That--well. I was a little taken aback to find things--so--a--so--well--so altered with you." He was beginning to breathe freer and to gain courage, now the atmosphere was clear of women. "I don't quite understand," returned his friend. "You mean I'm looking badly? You might have thought so a day or two ago, but I'm quite myself to-day, thank heaven." It seemed to Mr. McKenzie that that was just who he wasn't, but he only smiled derisively, and said, "No; I didn't mean that. I don't think you looking much amiss. On the contrary, you seem uncommonly jolly." "Jolly!" "Well for you--that is. Look here, Andrews, if there's a train back to town to-night, I guess I'll take it. I'm not a lady's man, you know. You see I didn't have any idea of what you expected of your friends. I'm not prepared." "Prepared, for what? We didn't have a dinner-party, did we? I hope you don't mind meeting these neighbors of mine, who have been burned out of their own house, and have taken shelter for a few nights in mine." "Neighbors," repeated the guest, who was a very good fellow, but not the quickest in the world. "Why, yes--from the house next door, where the fire was. You knew there had been a fire, I take it, since you had heard about my accident." "Yes." "Well, those ladies, as I said, were obliged to leave their own house in flames, and I brought them in here." "Oh!" "They seem to be very much obliged to me for what they think I did for them on that occasion, and we get on very well together." There was a pause, during which Mr. Andrews lighted his cigar, and Mr. McKenzie appeared to be digesting the intelligence. "All the same, it seems a little queer," he said, after a good deal of deliberation. "Queer? I must say I don't see it."