suppose you know that that West boy's grandmother wasn't sure who
his grandfather was? ... Mrs. Richie's a pretty woman, Friend
Ferguson; where are your eyes!" ...

When it was over, that terrible thirty minutes--for Mrs. Maitland
drove Harris at full speed through all Blair's elaborations--it
was Mrs. Richie who came to the rescue.

"Mrs. Maitland," she said, "sha'n't you and I and Mr. Ferguson go
and talk in your room, and leave the young people to amuse
themselves?" And Mrs. Maitland's quick agreement showed how
relieved she was to get through with all the "nonsense."

When their elders had left them, the "young people" drew a long
breath and looked at one another. Nannie, almost in tears, tried
to make some whispered explanation to Blair. but he turned his
back on her. David, with a carefully blase air, said, "Bully
dinner, old man." Blair gave him a look, and David subsided. When
the guests began a chatter of relief, Blair still stood apart in
burning silence. He wished he need never see or speak to any of
them again. He hated them all; he hated--But he did not finish
this, even in his thoughts.

When the others had recovered their spirits, and Nannie had begun
to play on the piano, and somebody had suggested that they should
all sing--"And then let's dance!" cried Elizabeth--Blair
disappeared. Out in the hall, standing with clenched hands in the
dim light, he said to himself he wished they would all clear out!
"I am sick of the whole darned business; I wish they'd clear
out!"