Mr.Hungerton,herfather,reallywasthemosttactlesspersonuponearth,—afluffy,feathery,untidycockatooofaman,perfectlygood-natured,butabsolutelycentereduponhisownsillyself.IfanythingcouldhavedrivenmefromGladys,itwouldhavebeenthethoughtofsuchafather-in-law.IamconvincedthathereallybelievedinhisheartthatIcameroundtotheChestnutsthreedaysaweekforthepleasureofhiscompany,andveryespeciallytohearhisviewsuponbimetallism,asubjectuponwhichhewasbywayofbeinganauthority.
ForanhourormorethateveningIlistenedtohismonotonouschirrupaboutbadmoneydrivingoutgood,thetokenvalueofsilver,thedepreciationoftherupee,andthetruestandardsofexchange.
"Suppose,"hecriedwithfeebleviolence,"thatallthedebtsintheworldwerecalledupsimultaneously,andimmediatepaymentinsistedupon,—whatunderourpresentconditionswouldhappenthen?"
Igavetheself-evidentanswerthatIshouldbearuinedman,uponwhichhejumpedfromhischair,reprovedmeformyhabituallevity,whichmadeitimpossibleforhimtodiscussanyreasonablesubjectinmypresence,andbouncedoffoutoftheroomtodressforaMasonicmeeting.
AtlastIwasalonewithGladys,andthemomentofFatehadcome!AllthateveningIhadfeltlikethesoldierwhoawaitsthesignalwhichwillsendhimonaforlornhopehopeofvictoryandfearofrepulsealternatinginhismind.
Shesatwiththatproud,delicateprofileofhersoutlinedagainsttheredcurtain.Howbeautifulshewas!Andyethowaloof!Wehadbeenfriends,quitegoodfriendsbutnevercouldIgetbeyondthesamecomradeshipwhichImighthaveestablishedwithoneofmyfellow-reportersupontheGazette,—perfectlyfrank,perfectlykindly,andperfectlyunsexual.Myinstinctsareallagainstawomanbeingtoofrankandathereasewithme.Itisnocomplimenttoaman.Wheretherealsexfeelingbegins,timidityanddistrustareitscompanions,heritagefromoldwickeddayswhenloveandviolencewentoftenhandinhand.Thebenthead,theavertedeye,thefalteringvoice,thewincingfigure—these,andnottheunshrinkinggazeandfr