"Oh, come now, Natalie," he protested. "It wasn't anything of the
sort. The dinner was all right. The guests were - all right. I
may have unconsciously resented your attitude about Doctor Haverford.
Certainly he didn't angle for it, and I had no idea of throwing a
sop to Providence."

"That isn't what was wrong at dinner."

"Do you really want me to tell you?"

"Not if it's too disagreeable."

"Good heavens, Natalie. One would think I bullied you!"

"Oh, no, you don't bully. It's worse. It's the way you look. Your
face sets. Well?"

"I didn't feel unpleasant. It's rather my misfortune that my face - "

"Didn't you like my gown?"

"Very much. It seemed a trifle low, but you know I always like your
clothes." He was almost pathetically anxious to make up to her for
that moment's disloyalty in the library.

"There!" she said, brushing the papers aside. "Now we're getting
at it. Was I anything like as low as Audrey Valentine? Of course
not! Her back - You just drive me to despair, Clay. Nothing I do
pleases you. The very tone of that secretary of yours to-day, when