"No," said Winton, more shortly than the invitation warranted; and
the other went his way alone.




II

IN WHICH AN ENGINE IS SWITCHED


"'Scuse me, sah; private cyah, sah."

It was the porter's challenge in the vestibule of the Rosemary. Adams
found a card.

"Take that to Miss Carteret--Miss Virginia Carteret," he directed, and
waited till the man came back with his welcome.

The extension table in the open rear third of the private car was
closed to its smallest dimensions, and the movable furnishings were
disposed about the compartment to make it a comfortable lounging room.

Mrs. Carteret was propped among the cushions of a divan with a book.
Her daughter occupied the undivided half of a tete-a-tete chair with
a blond athlete in a clerical coat and a reversed collar. Miss
Virginia was sitting alone at a window, but she rose and came to greet
the visitor.