"It's as you thought. He don't want to go with either you or Adam."

Rufus's face remained unchanged; it was slightly bovine of expression as
he received the news. "We'll both get to bed in good time then," was his
comment.

Mrs. Peck's smooth brow drew in momentary exasperation. She had expected
something more dramatic than this.

"I'm glad you're so easily satisfied," she said. "But let me tell
you--I'm not!"

She paused to see if this piece of information would take more effect
than the first, but again Rufus proved a disappointment. Neither by word
nor look did he express any sympathy.

Mrs. Peck continued, it being contrary to her nature to leave anything
to the imagination of her hearers. "If he'd been content to go with one
of you, I wouldn't have given it another thought. Goodness knows, I'm
not of a suspicious turn. But the moment I mention the matter, he turns
round with his sweetest smile and he says, 'Oh, don't you trouble, Mrs.
Peck!' he says. 'I quite understand. Miss Columbine explained it all,
and I quite see your point. It ought to have occurred to me sooner,' he
says, smiling with them nice teeth of his, 'but, if you'll believe me,
it didn't.' And then, when I suggested maybe he'd like you or Adam to go
with him instead, it was, 'No, no, Mrs. Peck. I wouldn't ask it of 'em.
I couldn't drag any man at the chariot-wheels of Art. If I did, she
would see to it that the chariot was empty.' He most always talks like
that," ended Mrs. Peck in an aggrieved tone. "He's that airy in his