ed. In no other
man would he have objected to this sort of affair, though he might have
criticised the trysting-place as a matter of taste. He had to bring up
the subject.

Bedient's face clouded. "How did you hear?"

Cairns told, but spared details.

"I hoped it wouldn't get out on account of Mrs. Wordling," Bedient
said. "I should have had the instinct to spare her from any such
comments. I didn't know the laws of the park. It was a perfect night.
We talked by the fountain. She was the first to suggest that we recross
the street--and there we were--locked in."

Cairns asked several questions. Once he started impatiently to say that
Mrs. Wordling had nothing to lose, but he caught himself in time. He
saw that Bedient had been handled a bit, and had only a vague idea that
he was embroiled in a scandal, the sordidness of which was apt to reach
every ear but the principals'. At all events, the old Bedient was
restored; in fact, if it were possible, he was brightened at one
certain angle. Cairns had been unable to forbear this question:

"But, Andrew, who suggested going across to the park?"

"I can't just say," Bedient answered thoughtfully. "You see we smelled
mignonette, and followed a common impulse. You should have seen the
night to understand.... I say, David, can I do anything to straighten
this out for Mrs. Wordling?"

"Only ignore it," Cairns said hastily. "I'll nip it--wherever it comes
up. And the next time a woman asks----"

"But I didn't say----"

"The next time you smell mignonette, think of it as a soporific. Just
yawn and say you've been working like a fire-horse on the Fourth....
You see, it isn't what happens that gets out to the others, including
those we care about, but what is imagined by minds which are not
decently policed."

"Crowds are cruel," Bedient mused.

Cairns had found it hard not to be spiteful toward one whom he
considered had abused his friend's fineness.... They dined at the Club.
The talk turned to a much fairer thing. Bedient saw (with deep and full
delight) that Cairns had sighted his island of that Delectable
Archipelago, and was making for it full-sailed. An enchanting idea came
to Bedient (the fruit of an hour's happy talk), as to the best way for
Cairns to make a landing in still waters....

Bedient was detailing the plan with some spirit, when Cairns' hand fell
swiftly upon his arm.... At a near table just behind, Mrs. Wordling was
sitting with a gentleman. Neithe