He did, indeed, display such stony indifference, and maintain such an expression of stolid stupidity, that Sylvia could hardly keep her face straight, and having chosen a big sofa and a rug for her living-room, and her dining-room table, she announced that she "would come in again" and graciously departed. "I have a good mind to shake you!" she said as they went down the steps. "I had no idea you were such a good actor--we'll have to get up some dramatics when we get home. Did you like my selections?" "Very much, as far as they went. Where are you going now--I see that your grinning Frenchman and upholstered palace on wheels are waiting for you again." "Well, I can't walk _all_ day--I'm going to Macy's to buy kitchen-ware. You'd better do something else--I'm afraid you'll criticize my brooms and saucepans!" "All right, go alone. I'm going to the real Tiffany's." "What for?" "To squander my fortune, Pauline Pry. I'll meet you at Sherry's at one-thirty. I suppose some kindly policeman will guide my faltering footsteps in the right direction. Good-bye." And he closed the door of the car in her radiant face. They had a merry lunch an hour later, Austin ordering the meal and paying for it with such evident pleasure that Sylvia could not help being touched at his joy over his little legacy. Then he proposed that, although they were a little late, they might go to a matinee, and afterwards insisted on walking up Fifth Avenue and stopping for tea at the Plaza. "I've seen more beautiful cities than New York," he said, as they sauntered along, much more slowly than most of the hurrying throng,--"Paris, for instance--fairly alive with loveliness! But I don't believe there's a place in the world that gives you the feeling of _power_ that this does--especially just at this time of day, when the lights are coming on, and all these multitudes of people going home after their day's work or pleasure. It's tremendous--lifts you right off your feet--do you know what I mean?" They reached home a little after six, to find Uncle Mat, whose existence they had completely forgotten, waiting for them with his eyes glued to the clock. "I was about to have the Hudson River dragged for you two," he said, as Austin wrung his hand and Sylvia kissed him penitently. "Where _have_ you been? I came home to lunch, and made several appointments to introduce Austin to some very influential men, who I think would make valuable acquaintances for him. It's inexcusable, Sylvia, for you to monopolize him this way." The happy culprits exchanged glances, and then Sylvia linked her arm in Austin's and got down on her knees, dragging him after her. "I suppose we may as well confess," she said, "because you'd guess it inside of five minutes, anyway. Please don't be very angry with us." "What _are_ you talking about? Austin, can you explain? Has Sylvia taken leave of her senses?"