to Ramsey was passing for pure accident. That the
whole thing was visibly offensive to Hayle's twins made it all the more
amusing, and Ramsey's pause in the aisle seemed the most natural thing
she could do on finding herself in two places at the same time. So for a
moment, in which she rejoiced that at any rate the twins had never seen
Phyllis as Phyllis. But then the demonstration broke short off. At
different points three men stood up at once. In the front row appeared
Julian. A few seats behind him loomed the exhorter. The third rose just
at Ramsey's elbow, offering her his seat, yet counting it but courtesy
still to keep his attention mainly on the play. It was the first clerk,
he who had once been clerk on the _Quakeress_, where he had known
Phyllis as Hugh's nurse, and whose scrutiny "Harriet" had until now
somehow escaped. Whether in thanking him Ramsey accepted or declined she
hardly knew, for just then the gaze he still bent on "Harriet" showed a
gleam of recognition. Ramsey's heart rose into her throat. She murmured
a hurried word, which she had to go over a second time before it took
effect on him:

"Mr. Hugh's looking for you, out forward. The commodore and the captain
are both sick."

As the announcement drew his quick glance she almost waved him to go.
Yet what was done was done; with Phyllis recognized, it might be far
better for him to remain, and she turned her dismissing gesture into one
of detention.

"I'm Miss Hayle," she whispered, while both looked again toward Julian
and "Harriet." "That's my old mammy back yonder. I want my twin
brothers. Mom-a wants them, up in the texas, as quick as--never mind,
here they come."

XLIV

FORBEARANCE

Ramsey was mistaken--her brothers were staying. The play's first act was
done, there was great clapping and thumping and the curtain was
falling--or closing, in two parts from opposite sides, eased over
sticking-points by nimble efforts behind it; but though Julian--who
evidently had been getting through the general's courtesy the indulgence
denied him at the bar--had moved a step or so from his chair, Lucian
remained seated. Next them sat the general and the senator, and the four
were debating together. Oddly enough, the twins were in disaccord, and
while Lucian had the senator's approval the general's went to his
brother. The applause died out prematurely and the whole company gave
its attention to the debate, Ramsey sinking into the clerk's seat an