"Why is it that every Governor fights shy of having voted for Porshinger?" Cameron asked. "If you press them, they all side-step the responsibility. Porshinger isn't such a bad fellow as a whole." "Taken as a whole!" exclaimed Devereux. "Lord save the mark! the dose is prohibitive--very little of him is more than sufficient for me." "What is the matter with him--except that he's a bounder and all that?" Cameron asked.--"There are many in the same class, and some of them 'belong.'" "True enough," Devereux agreed; "but we tolerate the belongers who belong, on account of their families--at least for a time. Those of Porshinger's stamp are just plain bounders; they have nothing to go on except themselves." "Would you rather be a bounder with Porshinger's wealth and financial position, or a bounder with only a family behind you?" Cameron inquired. "Me for Porshinger!" Burgoyne declared. "He has the money and may improve--the other chap is hopeless." "He is at the next place--Woodside's, I understand," Miss Chamberlain broke in. "Suppose we ask him over and try our softening influence on him." "Sample him before tasting," Cameron suggested. "Shake well before taking," Devereux amended. "We shall ask Pendleton to do the shaking--so it is thoroughly done!" Cameron laughed. Burgoyne gave Pendleton an amused smile, which the latter returned. They were thinking of the episode on the Club-house piazza. "You're not serious, Gladys?" cried Mrs. Burleston. "It is for the table to say," Gladys submitted. "Vote, please--you begin, Dorothy." "I vote for--that we have him over," said Miss Tazewell. "So do I," said Mrs. Burleston. "Marcia, how do you vote?" asked Gladys. "With the others," Miss Emerson acquiesced--but she hesitated just a trifle before she said it. "And Mrs. Lorraine?" Stephanie did not understand the hostess' game, but she caught her significant look and acquiesced. "I also will vote with the others," she replied. "The gentlemen, of course, are of the same mind as the ladies so it will be unnecessary to ask them." Miss Chamberlain smiled. "Therefore it is unanimously resolved that Mr. Porshinger be invited to Criss-Cross and to make one of the party. We need another man anyway. I don't hear any objection so the resolution stands. I shall telephone him in the morning." "And he will be bounder enough to come!" muttered Devereux. "Of course he will," said Gladys--"it is just because he is a bounder that we're going to ask him. You don't suppose I would venture it on you, or any other gentleman--to take you from another house where you're a guest for the week-end!" "Cameron, what possessed you to inquire about Porshinger? You're responsible for all this fool thing!" declared Devereux. "It was a perfectly harmless inquiry," Cameron protested, "which turned out to be loaded. I beg your pardon, Devereux, I shall never do it again." "Remember I shall expect you men to be civil to him," Miss Chamberlain cautioned.