"I shouldn't think you could see in that thing," he observed.

She took no notice of his words.

"If I laughed," continued he, "it was only from nervousness. I was
carried away"--

"I observed that you were," she interrupted icily.

He stood awkwardly a moment, while she finished putting up her hair.
Then, as she turned toward him, he smiled again, holding out his hand.

"Surely you are not angry with me," he pleaded. "I care more for your
feeling toward me than for anything else in the world."

"It would amuse Mrs. Rangely to hear you say so, not to mention my
husband."

He stared at her with the air of a man not sure whether he is awake or
dreaming.

"What are they to us?" he asked, sinking his voice almost to a whisper.

"Mrs. Rangely may be nothing to you, but Dr. Wilson is still a good
deal to me, thank you."

He looked at her again with perplexity in his glance, but with his face
hardening.