larger part in
them. This led, first, to his running for a State Senatorship which he
failed to get, and ultimately to a few months of intelligent activity in
a municipal office. Soon after being deprived of this post by a change
of party he had published a small volume of delicate verse, and, a year
later, an odd uneven brilliant book on Municipal Government. After that
one hardly knew where to look for his next appearance; but chance rather
disappointingly solved the problem by killing off his father and placing
Halston at the head of the Merrick Iron Foundry at Yonkers.

His friends had gathered that, whenever this regrettable contingency
should occur, he meant to dispose of the business and continue his life
of free experiment. As often happens in just such cases, however, it was
not the moment for a sale, and Merrick had to take over the management
of the foundry. Some two years later he had a chance to free himself;
but when it came he did not choose to take it. This tame sequel to an
inspiriting start was disappointing to some of us, and I was among those
disposed to regret Merrick's drop to the level of the prosperous. Then
I went away to a big engineering job in China, and from there to Africa,
and spent the next twelve years out of sight and sound of New York
doings.

During that long interval I heard of no new phase in Merrick's
evolution, but this did not surprise me, as I had never expected from
him actions resonant enough to cross the globe. All I knew--and this did
surprise me--was that he had not married, and that he was still in the
iron business. All through those years, however, I never ceased to wish,
in certain situations and at certain turns of thought, that Merrick were
in reach, that I could tell this or that to Merrick. I had never, in the
interval, found any one with just his quickness of perception and just
his sureness of response.

After dinner, therefore, we irresistibly drew together. In Mrs. Cumnor's
big easy drawing-room cigars were allowed, and there was no break in the
communion of the sexes; and, this being the case, I ought to have sought
a seat beside one of the ladies among whom we were allowed to remain.
But, as had generally happened of old when Merrick was in sight, I found
myself steering straight for him past all minor ports of call.

There had been no time, before dinner, for more than the barest
expression of satisfaction at meeting, and our seats had been at
opposite en