"Well, Chester, you ought to be a good dancer if build counts--though I shouldn't like to have you showing off your accomplishment right here--you might lack the public finish of the Banks style. You big football fellows always have the call on the little men in dancing. It is a matter of bulk and base, I think." The ferry boat was passing Alcatraz now, and the populace had turned its attention away from Harry Banks and his party. The spoiled child kept straight ahead. "They make real, ball-room gents," he said. He turned toward Marion on this; turned as though he could not keep his look away. She lifted her eyebrow again, and he fell into a sulky silence. The others rushed to the first refuge of tact--personalities. After a moment, Banks joined the talk; and then appeared another aspect of his perverse mood. He took the conversation into his own hands, and he talked of nothing which could by any chance include Bertram Chester, the callow newcomer, the outsider. It was all designed to show, it did show, how intimate they were, how many old things they had in common--never a passage in which Bertram could join by any excuse. Even so did Banks direct it as to draw Kate Waddington into the talk. Bertram sat apart, then, his face showing all his displeasure. His straight brows set themselves in a frown, which he bent sometimes at the group volleying personalities at Harry Banks, and sometimes on the terraced hills of Sausalito. When they trooped off with the crowd, Kate fell in beside Bertram again. Lagging deliberately, she let a group of picnickers come in between them and the rest of their party. He was still frowning. "I'd like to soak that man," he said. "Maybe I will." "No you won't!" said she. "Won't I?" he replied. "Oh, don't think I haven't seen it all. He was horrid. You see, we've got used to him. You're meeting him new, and you don't quite understand him yet." "Well, I'm going to spend no sleepless nights trying!" "He's really very clever and kind, at bottom. You'll come to like him as we all do. And he's a man that it's good for you to know." Bertram seemed to be considering this. "Well, what did he mean, anyway?" he snapped. "Nothing. It's just his foolery. We all had to take it from him at first--and then we came to appreciate him." Bertram answered with an impatient gesture. Kate caught his arm, held it for just a second. "Now, you wouldn't spoil my day, would you?" she asked softly. "You know I'm responsible for you--" His frown melted into his smile. "Sure, if you put it like that!" "Now, you're a sensible, accommodating, self-restrained lad, and every other adjective in Samuel Smiles. You could charm the buttons off a policeman--and you'll see how really nice he can be." "You'll take out time until I get over my grouch?" "Of course." They were approaching Masters and Dr. French, who stood waiting by the train platform. "Late and happy!" she called.