ttle pink about the
nose, but wishful to be polite.

"Well, there's plenty of it," he said bitterly, grabbing his hat, which
threatened to blow away.

It was plain that he jested with an anxious heart, thinking of what
might be said of his venture at the next Council meeting. Those very
offensive fellows who always were against him would, of course, make
capital out of this. . . . Suddenly he braced himself up and strode
away across the lawn. They _should_ frisk, if any influence of his
could make 'em!

His wife looked after him sympathetically, then turned to Miss Ethel.
"That's right!" she said. "Arthur will soon put a little more spirit
into them. You see he knows how it is done. I shall never forget the
way he entered into the spirit of the thing that time when we were
abroad. If you could have seen him going down the Plage with a sort of
a rattle in his hand and his hat on one side---- But there's something
in the climate, of course."

"I suppose there must be," said Miss Ethel, with an involuntary glance
at the couples jigging solemnly about the grass in front of her.

They sat silent for a time, feeling colder and colder, but sparing Mrs.
Graham's feeling by remaining where they were. "Isn't that Caroline?"
said Mrs. Bradford, after a long pause.

"I dare say. She told me the arrangements were somewhat different this
evening, and she was to come off duty at half-past nine," said Miss
Ethel.

Then Mr. Graham came back and bumped himself down so heavily on the
wooden seat that the ladies felt a slight jar.

"No life!" he exclaimed. "No gaiety! No _joie de vivre_!" He paused,
blowing his nose. "Well, this is the last time. I'll never attempt
anything of the sort again."

"You must not say that. I am sure the Thorhaven people are grateful,"
murmured Miss Ethel.

"Old fool!" blurted out Mr. Graham with alarming ferocity and
suddenness. "A woman like that ought to be kept indoors when other
people are enjoying themselves, and only taken out in a churchyard on a
chain. Fit for nothing else!"

"Arthur! What are you talking about?" said his wife, naturally
startled.

"Well," he said, then had to swallow and choke. "Well, I bought one of
those paper snakes just to encourage the lad and set things going a
bit. Then I let it run out as I passed a dull-looking group that
seemed not to be enjoying themselves. And--and----"

"Well, Arthur?"

"A wretched woman turned round and called me