Mrs. Hanway-Harley placed Mr. Gwynn on her right hand, a distinction
which that personage bore with a petrified grace most beautiful to look
upon. Senator Hanway was on the other side of Mr. Gwynn. The party was
not large--eight in all--and, besides the trio named and Mr. Harley,
counted such partisans of Senator Hanway as Senators Gruff and Kink and
Wink and Loot and Price. Mr. Gwynn was delighted to meet so much good
company, and intimated it in a manner decorously conventional.

"Isn't he utterly English, and therefore utterly admirable?" whispered
Mrs. Hanway-Harley to Senator Loot.

That statesman agreed to this as well as he could with a mouth at work
on fish.

"Mr. Gwynn," said Mrs. Hanway-Harley affably, "I shall make the most of
you while I may. You know I only intend to see you gentlemen safely
launched, and then I shall retire."

Mr. Gwynn bowed gravely. Mr. Gwynn's strength lay in bowing. He was also
remarkable for the unflagging attention which he paid to whatever was
said to him. On such occasions his unblinking stare, wholly receptive
like an underling taking orders, and never a glimmer of either
contradiction or agreement or even intelligence to show therein, was
almost disconcerting. Mrs. Hanway-Harley, however, declared that this
receptive, inane stare was the hall-mark of exclusive English circles.
Mr. Gwynn gave another proof of culture; he pitched upon the best wine
and stuck to it, tasting and relishing with educated palate. This set
him up with Mr. Harley.

"Yes, I shall make the most of you, Mr. Gwynn," said Mrs. Hanway-Harley.

By way of making the most of Mr. Gwynn, Mrs. Hanway-Harley spoke of
meeting Mr. Storms. In her opinion that young man did not appreciate the
goodness of Mr. Gwynn, and was far from grateful for those benefits
which the latter showered upon him. At this intelligence, Mr. Gywnn was
taken so aback that Mrs. Hanway-Harley stopped abruptly and shifted the
conversation. Mrs. Hanway-Harley was one of those who have half-tact;
they know enough to back out and not enough to keep out of a blunder.

The dinner was neither long nor formal. Mrs. Hanway-Harley at last
removed the restraint of her presence, and thereupon Mr. Harley drank
twice as much wine to help him bear her absence. Mr. Gwynn's health was
proposed by Mr. Harley, and Mr. Gwynn bowed his thanks. It should be
understood that Mr. Gwynn bowed like a Mandarin from beginning to end of
the feast. There were no speech