eemed all in despite of his personal
inclinations. Some of the passers-by bowed to him, and one or two
paused as if to shake hands and exchange greetings. He nodded responses
mechanically, but did not stop. It was as if he feared to interrupt the
process of lifting his reluctant feet and propelling them forward, lest
they should wheel and scuttle off in the opposite direction.

CHAPTER XXI

Deliberate as his progress was, the diminishing number of store-fronts
along the sidewalk, and the increasing proportion of picket-fences
enclosing domestic lawns, forced upon Theron's attention the fact that
he was nearing home. It was a trifle past the hour for his midday meal.
He was not in the least hungry; still less did he feel any desire just
now to sit about in that library living-room of his. Why should he go
home at all? There was no reason whatever--save that Alice would be
expecting him. Upon reflection, that hardly amounted to a reason. Wives,
with their limited grasp of the realities of life, were always expecting
their husbands to do things which it turned out not to be feasible for
them to do. The customary male animal spent a considerable part of his
life in explaining to his mate why it had been necessary to disappoint
or upset her little plans for his comings and goings. It was in the very
nature of things that it should be so.

Sustained by these considerations, Mr. Ware slackened his steps, then
halted irresolutely, and after a minute's hesitation, entered the small
temperance restaurant before which, as by intuition, he had paused. The
elderly woman who placed on the tiny table before him the tea and rolls
he ordered, was entirely unknown to him, he felt sure, yet none the less
she smiled at him, and spoke almost familiarly--"I suppose Mrs. Ware is
at the seaside, and you are keeping bachelor's hall?"

"Not quite that," he responded stiffly, and hurried through the meagre
and distasteful repast, to avoid any further conversation.

There was an idea underlying her remark, however, which recurred to him
when he had paid his ten cents and got out on the street again. There
was something interesting in the thought of Alice at the seaside.
Neither of them had ever laid eyes on salt water, but Theron took for
granted the most extravagant landsman's conception of its curative and
invigorating powers. It was apparent to him that he was going to pay
much greater attention to Alice's happiness and well-being in