“Oh, he’s been telling!” exclaimed Gloria. “I intended it to be a surprise. He’s really quite wonderful, you know, or at least he was quite wonderful if he hasn’t forgotten.” “It can’t do any harm, my knowing, as I’m not to be one of them,” said Terry. “I’d get you an invitation, if there was the slightest chance that you’d accept,” said Gloria. “You know I’d like to go, just to see George.” “Consider yourself invited then. Angela will ask any one that I tell her I want. They’ve got loads of room and men are never too numerous even in the trail of the fair Angela.” “Don’t you think that George ought to go back to his profession? If he’s as good as you say it ought to be easy to get him signed up on the Orpheum circuit. If he doesn’t know the ropes here in the States I’ll be glad to help him,” said Terry. “It can’t be done—the biggest salary in the world wouldn’t tempt George away from my service. It’s the Eastern idea of gratitude. We had that all argued out ten years ago. I told George that he ought not to give up his career to serve me, but he wouldn’t listen to me at all. He said that I had saved his life, therefore it belonged to me. He almost wept at the idea of having to go, and yet I sometimes think that it is my life that belongs to George instead of his life that belongs to me. He is a most despotic servant and tries to rule all of my actions. If my conduct displeases him he inconsistently threatens to leave, but of course he doesn’t mean it.” Gloria was smiling, reciting the peculiarities of an amusing servant, but to Ruth her words were appalling. She seemed to see Gloria as a bright plumaged bird, charmed by a snake. Once, years ago when she was a little girl visiting in the country, she had seen a bird thus charmed, circling, circling, downward toward the bright-eyed snake that waited for it. She had been unable to move or help, as fascinated as the bird itself. She felt the same sensation of helplessness now. She dared not look at Terry, but a few minutes later he came to her side and whispered to her: “Meet me at Mori’s tomorrow at five.” She had never heard of Mori’s, but she could look it up in the telephone directory. Evidently Terry had some plan. The thought cheered her immeasurably. The situation in the house was a curious one, for Amy shrank with terror whenever George came near her, at the same time leaping to do his slightest bidding. Ruth, so far as possible, ignored George completely and he never spoke to her directly unless it was absolutely necessary, and Gloria did not seem to either observe or sense that there was a strained atmosphere in the house.