, you ass, I _will_ be pretty and polite
about your saving my life." And both laughed and felt easier. "Saved a
good deal more than that as a matter of fact--or what counts for
more with me," Ted added soberly. "Then the letter I brought _was_
satisfactory?"

"Satisfactory? Gee!" said Ted intensely, and again they fell silent.

Some miles later Oliver added casually

"You won't have any trouble with our late hostess, by the way. Though
she knows all about it."

"She knows?"

Oliver couldn't resist.

"And quite approves. But she's--a sport." Then for Ted's sake, "Besides,
you see, it would crab her game completely."

"I'll tell Elinor, though," said Ted, stubbornly.

"About her father? You can't."

"Oh, Lord, no. About myself. Don't have to give names and addresses."

"Afterwards."

"Well, yes--afterwards. Though it makes me feel like a swine."

"Nobody our age who hasn't been one or felt like one--some of the
time--except Christers and the dead," said Oliver, and they proceeded
for several minutes on the profundity of that aphorism. The silence was
broken by Ted's saying violently,

"I _will_ marry her! I don't give a damn what's happened."

"Good egg. Of course you will." Oliver chuckled.

Ted turned to him anxiously after another silence.

"Look Ollie, that bump on my head--you've seen the size it is. Well, is
it going to just show up like _thunder_ at this silly dance?"

XLV

Half-past five in the morning and Oliver undressing wearily by the light
of a pale pink dawn.

Now and then he looks at his bed with a gloating expression that almost
reaches the proportions of a lust--he is so tired he can hardly get off
his clothes. The affairs of the last twenty-four hours mix in his mind
like a jumble of colored postcards, all loose and disconnected and
brightly unreal. Ted--Elinor--Mrs. Severance--Mr. Piper--the dance he
has just left--sleep--oh--sleep!

Where is Ted? Somewhere with Elinor of course--it doesn't matter--both
were looking suspiciously starry when he last saw them across the
room--engagements--marriages--sleep--Mr. Piper's revolver--sleep. How
will he return Mr. Piper's revolver? Can't do it tactfully--can't leave
it around to be lost, the servants are too efficient--send it to Ted and
Elinor as a wedding present--no, that's not tactful either--what silly
thoughts--might have been dead by this time--rather better, being
alive--and in bed--and asleep--and asleep. Oh, _bed!_ and h