There was no need for Edward to talk or even to don the rigid semi-smile which he was in the habit of assuming, with some difficulty, when he realised that he was watched. He could not hear anything except an occasional scream from Melsie Ponting. At four, six, half-past six and seven they stopped at saloons. The suggestion to stop always came from Banner Hope, but it did not benefit him very much, for Rhoda strictly censored anything that passed his lips. “It would be so discouraging,” she said, “if our driver fell down on us.” At about a quarter to seven Mrs. Ponting began to notice Edward. She looked round from the shelter of Avery’s shoulder as one looks out of a safe window at a poor man in the cold. “Edward’s shocked,” she said; and then with a little shriek, “Oh boy, I’ll trouble you to look at Edward’s face.” “_Sir_ Walter Raleigh discovering the barbarians of the Noo World,” said Mr. Bird, pronouncing the ‘Sir’ with the attentive emphasis democratic America always gives to a title. Edward had already dissolved the rigid coating of depression from his soul by means of several gin-and-vermouths. He was therefore lost in the thought of Emily and of the happier passages of his life—that dinner at Romano’s when he had made fourth to oblige Jimmy with the Silly Billy Sisters ... the afternoon on the river at Marlow when they first left school.... Edward’s happier passages were very rare and easy to remember. It was only when Melsie’s attack was repeated on a higher key—(“Now folks, go easy, we have a poyfect gentleman in our midst”)—that he was aware of her intention. “People don’t like me,” thought Edward. “They think I feel superior, but I am not brave enough to feel that. They don’t know how harmless and afraid I am.” “They wouldn’t countenance such things in Britain, would they, Edward?” said Mrs. Ponting. “The Britisher never hugs anyone except himself.” She shrieked with amusement and shouted against the wind to Rhoda, “Say, listen, Rhoda, we’re getting good and funny at the back here—barring Edward, and he’s shocked.” Rhoda looked round kindly at Edward. “Poor Edward,” she said. “Say, folks, at the next saloon there’s a dancing floor and an automatic piano.” In reply to this Banner Hope of course said that his aunt in Fresno had an automatic piano too. But Edward fortunately thought otherwise. Edward’s ears thought that Banner Hope said, “He could take her in two moves.”