To-night, as Sommers came across the hall to the drawing-room, she left the group about the door to welcome him. "Weren't you surprised," she asked him with an ironical laugh, "at the people, I mean--all ages and kinds? You see Parker had to be appeased. He didn't want to stay, and I don't know why he should. So we gave him Laura Lindsay." She nodded good-naturedly in the direction of a young girl, whose sharp thin little face was turned joyfully toward the handsome Parker. "And we added our cousin Caspar, not for conversation, but to give an illusion of youth and gayety. Caspar is the captain of the polo team. By the way, what do you think of polo?" "I never had occasion to think," the young doctor replied, scrutinizing a heavy, florid-faced young man whom he took to be Caspar Porter. "Well, polo is with us at breakfast and dinner. Papa doesn't approve, doesn't believe in young men keeping a stable as Caspar does. Mamma doesn't know what she believes. I am arbitrator--it's terrible, the new generation," she broke off whimsically. "Which has the right of it?" Sommers asked idly. "The fathers who made the money, or the sons who want to enjoy it?" "Both; neither," she laughed back with an air of comfortable tolerance. She might have added, 'You see, I like both kinds--you and Parker's set.' "Do you know, Dr. Lindsay is here?" Sommers smiled as he replied,-- "Yes; was it arranged?" The girl blushed, and moved away. "He was anxious to meet you." "Of course," the doctor replied ironically. "I could tell you more," she added alluringly. "I have no doubt. Perhaps you had better not, however." Miss Hitchcock ceased to smile and looked at him without reply. She had something on the tip of her tongue to tell him, something she had thought of pleasantly for the last three days, but she suspected that this man was not one who would like to take his good fortune from a woman's hand. "Dr. Lindsay is an old friend; we have known him for years." She spoke neutrally. Sommers merely nodded. "He is very successful, _very_," she added, giving in to her desire a little. "Chicago is a good place for a throat specialist." "He is said to be the most--" "What?" "You know--has the largest income of any doctor in the city." Sommers did not reply. At length the girl ventured once more. "I hope you will be nice to him." "There won't be any question of it." "You can be so stiff, so set; I have counted a great deal on this." "Politics, politics!" Sommers exclaimed awkwardly. "Who is the man with Mr. Porter?" "Railway Gazette Carson? That's what he is called. He swallows railroads--absorbs 'em. He was a lawyer. They have a house on the North Side and a picture, a Sargent. But I'll keep the story. Come! you must meet Mrs. Lindsay." "Politics, politics!" Sommers murmured to himself, as Miss Hitchcock moved across the room. CHAPTER IV