ion in his kindly
eyes. "No, no," I said hastily. "How could it--with so many and such
good friends?"

I think he would have questioned me further, but the Skeptic at that
moment turned my way, and I laid hold upon him--figuratively
speaking--and did not let go again till all danger of a discussion with
the Philosopher on the subject of my loneliness was past.

VI

WISTARIA--AND THE PHILOSOPHER

Friendship needs delicate handling.
--_Hugh Black._

"After all this dining and wine-ing of you," said Hepatica suddenly one
morning, toward the close of my visit, "you are not to escape without
our giving a dinner for you."

"Oh, my dear," I began, "after all you have done for me, surely that
isn't necessary. I have had----"

"Yes, I know. You have had dinners and dinners, including the
Philosopher's bachelor repast, which might or might not be called by
that name, but was certainly great fun. But I want to give you a dinner
myself."

"Better let her," advised the Skeptic, who was putting on his overcoat
at the time, preparatory to leaving us for the day. "It won't be like
anything of that name you have ever tried before. Besides she wants you
to meet Wistaria."

"Who is Wistaria?" I asked.

They both looked at me. Then they looked at each other.

"Hasn't Philo told you about Wistaria?" inquired the Skeptic, in evident
surprise. "Wasn't she at his----Oh, that's right--she was out of town.
Well, she's back, and you must meet her. She's a mighty fine girl--or,
if not exactly a girl, woman. Philo admires her rather more than he
condescends to admire most women, I should say. Any errands for me,
Patty? All right--good-bye, dear."

He kissed her and ran for his car. I stood looking out of the window
after him. It struck me rather suddenly that it was a gray day outside,
with heavy clouds threatening to make the sky even darker. There was a
touch of gloom in the whole outer aspect of things.

Hepatica immediately set about making preparations for her dinner. It
would be most informal, she assured me, and as I heard her giving her
invitations over the telephone I recognized from their character that
it would be so, even though I heard her inviting quite a party,
including Camellia and the Judge, Dahlia and the Professor, Althea and
the Promoter, and Azalea and the Cashier. A strange man, a Mining
Engineer, was included in the list, to make the tale of numbers evenly
divided. I judged he was likely