was hurt. "I had given him five hundred dollars," she told herself, "and
he ought to have been willing to spend such a small amount of it to
please me." Then she said; "A great many people economize in foolish
ways."

"I suppose so," said Peter. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you. I really
didn't think I ought to spend the money."

"Never mind," said Miss De Voe. "Were you pleased with the nomination
and election of Catlin?"

"I was pleased at the election, but I should have preferred Porter."

"I thought you tried to prevent Porter's nomination?"

"That's what the papers said, but they didn't understand."

"I wasn't thinking of the papers. You know I heard your speech in the
convention."

"A great many people seem to have misunderstood me. I tried to make it
clear."

"Did you intend that the convention should laugh?"

"No. That surprised and grieved me very much!"

Miss De Voe gathered from this and from what the papers had said that it
must be a mortifying subject to Peter, and knew that she ought to
discontinue it. But she could not help saying, "Why?"