X + 

At this point a maid announced that supper was served and instantly Gilbert took his departure. At the same time the family arose and Mrs.¬†Griffiths asked the maid: вАЬHas Bella telephoned yet?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, maвАЩam,вАЭ replied the servant, вАЬnot yet.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, have Mrs.¬†Truesdale call up the Finchleys and see if sheвАЩs there. You tell her I said that she is to come home at once.вАЭ + 

The maid departed for a moment while the group proceeded to the dining room, which lay to the west of the stairs at the rear. Again, as Clyde saw, this was another splendidly furnished room done in a very light brown, with a long center table of carved walnut, evidently used only for special occasions. It was surrounded by high-backed chairs and lighted by candelabras set at even spaces upon it. In a lower ceilinged and yet ample circular alcove beyond this, looking out on the garden to the south, was a smaller table set for six. It was in this alcove that they were to dine, a different thing from what Clyde had expected for some reason. + 

Seated in a very placid fashion, he found himself answering questions principally as to his own family, the nature of its life, past and present; how old was his father now? His mother? What had been the places of their residence before moving to Denver? How many brothers and sisters had he? How old was his sister, Esta? What did she do? And the others? Did his father like managing a hotel? What had been the nature of his fatherвАЩs work in Kansas City? How long had the family lived there? + 

Clyde was not a little troubled and embarrassed by this chain of questions which flowed rather heavily and solemnly from Samuel Griffiths or his wife. And from ClydeвАЩs hesitating replies, especially in regard to the nature of the family life in Kansas City, both gathered that he was embarrassed and troubled by some of the questions. They laid it to the extreme poverty of their relatives, of course. For having asked, вАЬI suppose you began your hotel work in Kansas City, didnвАЩt you, after you left school?вАЭ Clyde blushed deeply, bethinking himself of the incident of the stolen car and of how little real schooling he had had. Most certainly he did not like the thought of having himself identified with hotel life in Kansas City, and more especially the Green-Davidson. + 

But fortunately at this moment, the door opened and Bella entered, accompanied by two girls such as Clyde would have assumed at once belonged to this world. How different to Rita and Zella with whom his thought so recently had been disturbedly concerned. He did not know Bella, of course, until she proceeded most familiarly to address her family. But the othersвБ†вАФone was Sondra Finchley, so frequently referred to by Bella and her motherвБ†вАФas smart and vain and sweet a girl as Clyde had ever laid his eyes uponвБ†вАФso different to any he had ever known and so superior. She was dressed in a close-fitting tailored suit which followed her form exactly and which was enhanced by a small dark leather hat, pulled fetchingly low over her eyes. A leather belt of the same color encircled her neck. By a leather leash she led a French bull and over one arm carried a most striking coat of black and gray checksвБ†вАФnot too pronounced and yet having the effect of a manвАЩs modish overcoat. To ClydeвАЩs eyes she was the most adorable feminine thing he had seen in all his days. Indeed her effect on him was electricвБ†вАФthrillingвБ†вАФarousing in him a curiously stinging sense of what it was to want and not to haveвБ†вАФto wish to win and yet to feel, almost agonizingly that he was destined not even to win a glance from her. It tortured and flustered him. At one moment he had a keen desire to close his eyes and shut her outвБ†вАФat another to look only at her constantlyвБ†вАФso truly was he captivated. + 

Yet, whether she saw him or not, she gave no sign at first, exclaiming to her dog: вАЬNow, Bissell, if youвАЩre not going to behave, IвАЩm going to take you out and tie you out there. Oh, I donвАЩt believe I can stay a moment if he wonвАЩt behave better than this.вАЭ He had seen a family cat and was tugging to get near her. + 

Beside her was another girl whom Clyde did not fancy nearly so much, and yet who, after her fashion, was as smart as Sondra and perhaps as alluring to some. She was blondeвБ†вАФtowheadedвБ†вАФwith clear almond-shaped, greenish-gray eyes, a small, graceful, catlike figure, and a slinky feline manner. At once, on entering, she sidled across the room to the end of the table where Mrs.¬†Griffiths sat and leaning over her at once began to purr. + 

вАЬOh, how are you, Mrs.¬†Griffiths? IвАЩm so glad to see you again. ItвАЩs been some time since IвАЩve been over here, hasnвАЩt it? But then Mother and I have been away. She and Grant are over at Albany today. And I just picked up Bella and Sondra here at the LambertsвАЩ. YouвАЩre just having a quiet little supper by yourselves, arenвАЩt you? How are you, Myra?вАЭ she called, and reaching over Mrs.¬†GriffithsвАЩ shoulder touched Myra quite casually on the arm, as though it were more a matter of form than anything else. + 

In the meantime Bella, who next to Sondra seemed to Clyde decidedly the most charming of the three, was exclaiming: вАЬOh, IвАЩm late. Sorry, Mamma and Daddy. WonвАЩt that do this time?вАЭ Then noting Clyde, and as though for the first time, although he had risen as they entered and was still standing, she paused in semi-mock modesty as did the others. And Clyde, oversensitive to just such airs and material distinctions, was fairly tremulous with a sense of his own inadequacy, as he waited to be introduced. For to him, youth and beauty in such a station as this represented the ultimate triumph of the female. His weakness for Hortense Briggs, to say nothing of Rita, who was not so attractive as either of these, illustrated the effect of trim femininity on him, regardless of merit. + 

вАЬBella,вАЭ observed Samuel Griffiths, heavily, noting Clyde still standing, вАЬyour cousin, Clyde.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, yes,вАЭ replied Bella, observing that Clyde looked exceedingly like Gilbert. вАЬHow are you? Mother has been saying that you were coming to call one of these days.вАЭ She extended a finger or two, then turned toward her friends. вАЬMy friends, Miss Finchley and Miss Cranston, Mr.¬†Griffiths.вАЭ + 

The two girls bowed, each in the most stiff and formal manner, at the same time studying Clyde most carefully and rather directly, вАЬWell, he does look like Gil a lot, doesnвАЩt he?вАЭ whispered Sondra to Bertine, who had drawn near to her. And Bertine replied: вАЬI never saw anything like it. HeвАЩs really better-looking, isnвАЩt heвБ†вАФa lot?вАЭ + 

Sondra nodded, pleased to note in the first instance that he was somewhat better-looking than BellaвАЩs brother, whom she did not likeвБ†вАФnext that he was obviously stricken with her, which was her due, as she invariably decided in connection with youths thus smitten with her. But having thus decided, and seeing that his glance was persistently and helplessly drawn to her, she concluded that she need pay no more attention to him, for the present anyway. He was too easy. + 

But now Mrs.¬†Griffiths, who had not anticipated this visitation and was a little irritated with Bella for introducing her friends at this time since it at once raised the question of ClydeвАЩs social position here, observed: вАЬHadnвАЩt you two better lay off your coats and sit down? IвАЩll just have Nadine lay extra plates at this end. Bella, you can sit next to your father.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, no, not at all,вАЭ and вАЬNo, indeed, weвАЩre just on our way home ourselves. I canвАЩt stay a minute,вАЭ came from Sondra and Bertine. But now that they were here and Clyde had proved to be as attractive as he was, they were perversely interested to see what, if any, social flair there was to him. Gilbert Griffiths, as both knew, was far from being popular in some quartersвБ†вАФtheir own in particular, however much they might like Bella. He was, for two such self-centered beauties as these, too aggressive, self-willed and contemptuous at times. Whereas Clyde, if one were to judge by his looks, at least was much more malleable. And if it were to prove now that he was of equal station, or that the Griffiths thought so, decidedly he would be available locally, would he not? At any rate, it would be interesting to know whether he was rich. But this thought was almost instantly satisfied by Mrs.¬†Griffiths, who observed rather definitely and intentionally to Bertine: вАЬMr.¬†Griffiths is a nephew of ours from the West who has come on to see if he can make a place for himself in my husbandвАЩs factory. HeвАЩs a young man who has to make his own way in the world and my husband has been kind enough to give him an opportunity.вАЭ + 

Clyde flushed, since obviously this was a notice to him that his social position here was decidedly below that of the Griffiths or these girls. At the same time, as he also noticed, the look of Bertine Cranston, who was only interested in youths of means and position, changed from one of curiosity to marked indifference. On the other hand, Sondra Finchley, by no means so practical as her friend, though of a superior station in her set, since she was so very attractive and her parents possessed of even more meansвБ†вАФre-surveyed Clyde with one thought written rather plainly on her face, that it was too bad. He really was so attractive. + 

At the same time Samuel Griffiths, having a peculiar fondness for Sondra, if not Bertine, whom Mrs.¬†Griffiths also disliked as being too tricky and sly, was calling to her: вАЬHere, Sondra, tie up your dog to one of the dining-room chairs and come and sit by me. Throw your coat over that chair. HereвАЩs room for you.вАЭ He motioned to her to come. + 

вАЬBut I canвАЩt, Uncle Samuel!вАЭ called Sondra, familiarly and showily and yet somehow sweetly, seeking to ingratiate herself by this affected relationship. вАЬWeвАЩre late now. Besides Bissell wonвАЩt behave. Bertine and I are just on our way home, truly.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, yes, Papa,вАЭ put in Bella, quickly, вАЬBertineвАЩs horse ran a nail in his foot yesterday and is going lame today. And neither Grant nor his father is home. She wants to know if you know anything thatвАЩs good for it.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhich foot is it?вАЭ inquired Griffiths, interested, while Clyde continued to survey Sondra as best he might. She was so delicious, he thoughtвБ†вАФher nose so tiny and tiltedвБ†вАФher upper lip arched so roguishly upward toward her nose. + 

вАЬItвАЩs the left fore. I was riding out on the East Kingston road yesterday afternoon. Jerry threw a shoe and must have picked up a splinter, but John doesnвАЩt seem to be able to find it.вАЭ + 

вАЬDid you ride him much with the nail, do you think?вАЭ + 

вАЬAbout eight milesвБ†вАФall the way back.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, you had better have John put on some liniment and a bandage and call a veterinary. HeвАЩll come around all right, IвАЩm sure.вАЭ + 

The group showed no signs of leaving and Clyde, left quite to himself for the moment, was thinking what an easy, delightful world this must beвБ†вАФthis local society. For here they were without a care, apparently, between any of them. All their talk was of houses being built, horses they were riding, friends they had met, places they were going to, things they were going to do. And there was Gilbert, who had left only a little while beforeвБ†вАФmotoring somewhere with a group of young men. And Bella, his cousin, trifling around with these girls in the beautiful homes of this street, while he was shunted away in a small third-floor room at Mrs.¬†CuppyвАЩs with no place to go. And with only fifteen dollars a week to live on. And in the morning he would be working in the basement again, while these girls were rising to more pleasure. And out in Denver were his parents with their small lodging house and mission, which he dared not even describe accurately here. + 

Suddenly the two girls declaring they must go, they took themselves off. And he and the Griffiths were once more left to themselvesвБ†вАФhe with the feeling that he was very much out of place and neglected here, since Samuel Griffiths and his wife and Bella, anyhow, if not Myra, seemed to be feeling that he was merely being permitted to look into a world to which he did not belong; also, that because of his poverty it would be impossible to fit him intoвБ†вАФhowever much he might dream of associating with three such wonderful girls as these. And at once he felt sadвБ†вАФveryвБ†вАФhis eyes and his mood darkening so much that not only Samuel Griffiths, but his wife as well as Myra noticed it. If he could enter upon this world, find some way. But of the group it was only Myra, not any of the others, who sensed that in all likelihood he was lonely and depressed. And in consequence as all were rising and returning to the large living room (Samuel chiding Bella for her habit of keeping her family waiting) it was Myra who drew near to Clyde to say: вАЬI think after youвАЩve been here a little while youвАЩll probably like Lycurgus better than you do now, even. There are quite a number of interesting places to go and see around hereвБ†вАФlakes and the Adirondacks are just north of here, about seventy miles. And when the summer comes and we get settled at Greenwood, IвАЩm sure Father and Mother will like you to come up there once in a while.вАЭ + 

She was by no means sure that this was true, but under the circumstances, whether it was or not, she felt like saying it to Clyde. And thereafter, since he felt more comfortable with her, he talked with her as much as he could without neglecting either Bella or the family, until about half-past nine, when, suddenly feeling very much out of place and alone, he arose saying that he must go, that he had to get up early in the morning. And as he did so, Samuel Griffiths walked with him to the front door and let him out. But he, too, by now, as had Myra before him, feeling that Clyde was rather attractive and yet, for reasons of poverty, likely to be neglected from now on, not only by his family, but by himself as well, observed most pleasantly, and, as he hoped, compensatively: вАЬItвАЩs rather nice out, isnвАЩt it? Wykeagy Avenue hasnвАЩt begun to show what it can do yet because the spring isnвАЩt quite here. But in a few weeks,вАЭ and he looked up most inquiringly at the sky and sniffed the late April air, вАЬwe must have you out. All the trees and flowers will be in bloom then and you can see how really nice it is. Good night.вАЭ + 

He smiled and put a very cordial note into his voice, and once more Clyde felt that, whatever Gilbert GriffithsвАЩ attitude might be, most certainly his father was not wholly indifferent to him. + 