"Lefferts and I were speaking," he said, slightly raising his voice, "of the peculiar atmosphere that makes for the enjoyment of a home. What, Mr. Reed, do you think is most essential?" "Just one moment, Mr. Crane," said Reed. "I want to say a word more of that other subject we were speaking of." Crane's seat allowed him to see the pantry door before any one else could. On it his eyes were fixed as he answered thoughtfully: "Our last subject. Now, let me see, what was that?" "It was the question of the propriety of--" "Fish, sir?" said a gentle voice in Reed's ear. He groaned and helped himself largely and in silence. Lefferts, who was really kind-hearted, pitied his distress and decided to change the topic. "What a fine old house this is," he said, glancing around the high-ceilinged room. "Who does it belong to?" "It belongs," answered Tucker, "to a family named Revelly--a family who held a highly honored position in the history of our country until they took the wrong side in war." "In this part of the country, sir," cried Reed, "we are not accustomed to thinking it the wrong side." Tucker bowed slightly. "I believe that I am voicing the verdict of history and time," he answered. It was in remorse, perhaps, for having stirred up this new subject of dispute that Lefferts now went on rapidly, too rapidly to feel his way. "Well, this present generation seems to be an amusing lot. Eliot was telling me about them last night. He says one of the girls is a perfect beauty. Now, what was her name--such a pretty one. Oh, yes," he added, slightly raising his voice, as his memory gave it to him, "Claudia." "What?" said the cook. "Nobody spoke to you, Jane-Ellen," said Crane, but his eyes remained fixed on her long and meditatively as she handed the sauce for the fish. Lefferts continued: "Eliot said that she was a most indiscriminating fascinator--engaged to three men last summer, to his knowledge. Our Northern girls are infants compared--" Reed suddenly sprang up from the table. "I'd be obliged, sir," he said, "if you'd tell Mr. Eliot, with my compliments, that that story of his is untrue, and if he doesn't know it, he ought to. I don't blame you, sir, a stranger, for repeating all you hear about one of the loveliest young ladies in the country, but I do blame him--" At this the cook approached him and said with a stern civility: "Do sit down and eat your fish, sir, before it gets cold." They exchanged a long and bitter glance, but Reed sat down. "I'm sure you'll believe," said Lefferts, "that I'm sorry to have said anything I ought not, particularly about any friend of yours, Mr. Reed, but the truth is, I thought of it only as being immensely to the credit of the young lady, in a neighborhood which must be, you'll forgive my saying, rather dull if you're not fond of hunting." "The point is not whether it is to her credit or not," returned Reed, who was by no means placated, "the point is that it is not true."