ntleman, so full
of his entrance speech that he said the first part of it before he
noticed that the room was empty. And then turned to rend his fellow
adventurer, who was laughing at him.

"Didn't Horace tell us," he stormed, "that she was here, and wasn't you
going to say how you had saw her in the original 'Black Crook?'"

"I seen her all right," said his more grammatical friend, with heavy
emphasis.

"Do you see her now?" demanded the irate molasses traveler.

"I do not, but I'll set here 'til she comes."

They both sat. Not indeed until the arrival of Ruby Mandeville, but
until Hawley and Mead made their appearance, and made it, too, very
plain that they had not expected and did not enjoy the society of the
travelers.

"Where are the ladies?" asked Hawley.

"Search us," responded the travelers.

"They must have gone to their rooms," said the bridegroom. "If these
gentlemen don't object to our waiting here," he went on with a fine and
wasted sarcasm.

"Set right down," said the genial sarsaparilla man, and to further
promote good feeling he tendered his remaining "Ruby Mandeville" cigar.

"Your friend," said he affably, "does he always wear them goggles?"

"Always," answered Hawley. "Eats in them, sleeps in them."

"Born in them," supplemented Mead savagely.

They sat and waited for yet a few moments, and though Mead did not add
geniality to the conversation, he certainly contributed interest to it.
For his views on honeymoon etiquette being strong within him, and an
audience made to his hand, he went on to amplify some of the theories
with which he had been trying to undermine Winthrop's loyalty.

"I am persuaded that most of the disappointments of married life are due
to the impossible standards set up at the beginning. Look at it this
way. You know the fuss most wives make about the hours a husband keeps.
Well! suppose Mr. Hawley comes out in the car with me to-night. I know
some fellows who have a summer studio near here. We'll run over and make
a night of it."

"Say," the molasses gentleman broke in, "be you married, mister?"

"No!" said Mead.

"Sounds like it," said the molasses gentleman. "Marriage will sort of
straighten you out on these here subjects."

"Oh, leave 'em be," admonished the sarsaparilla man. "If I had 'a met up
with him thirty years ago, mebbee I wouldn't be in the traveling line
now. He's got a fine idee."

Hawley, meanwhile, was wrestling with his manners and the "Rub