The chauffeur cranked up, and sounded his horn--which naturally had the effect of disturbing the meeting. People supposed we were going to try to get through the crowd ahead--and there was no place where anyone could move. But van Tuiver went to the rear of the car, saying, in a voice of quiet authority: “A little room here, please.” And so, foot by foot, we backed away from the meeting, and when we had got clear of the throng, the master of the car stepped in, and we turned and made our way down Broad Street. And now I was to get a lesson in the aristocratic ideal. Of course van Tuiver was angry; I believe he even suspected his wife of having known of the meeting. I supposed he would ask some questions; I supposed that at least he would express his opinion of the speech, his disgust that a woman of education should make such a spectacle of herself. Such husbands as I had been familiar with had never hesitated to vent their feelings under such circumstances. But from Douglas van Tuiver there came--not a word! He sat, perfectly straight, staring before him, like a sphinx; and Sylvia, after one or two swift glances at him, began to gossip cheerfully about her plans for the day-nursery for working-women! So for a few blocks, until suddenly she leaned forward. “Stop here, Ferris.” And then, turning to me, “Here is the American Trust Company.” “The American Trust Company?” I echoed, in my dumb stupidity. “Yes--that is where the check is payable,” said Sylvia, and gave me a pinch. And so I comprehended, and gathered up my belongings and got out. She shook my hand warmly, and her husband raised his hat in a very formal salute, after which the car sped on up the street. I stood staring after it, in somewhat the state of mind of any humble rustic who may have been present when Elijah was borne into the heavens by the chariot of fire! 19. Sylvia had been something less than polite to me; and so I had not been home more than an hour before there came a messenger-boy with a note. By way of reassuring her, I promised to come to see her the next morning; and when I did, and saw her lovely face so full of concern, I forgot entirely her worldly greatness, and did what I had longed to do from the beginning--put my arms about her and kissed her. “My dear girl,” I protested, “I don’t want to be a burden in your life--I want to help you!’” “But,” she exclaimed, “what must you have thought--” “I thought I had made a lucky escape!” I laughed. She was proud--proud as an Indian; it was hard for her to make admissions about her husband. But then--we were like two errant school-girls, who had been caught m an escapade! “I don’t know what I’m going to do about him,” she said, with a wry smile. “He really won’t listen--I can’t make any impression on him.” “Did he guess that you’d come there on purpose?” I asked. “I told him,” she answered. “You _told_ him!”