The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-18
CHAPTER I-cOntinued

loving reckoning fan and
Flora, dallying with her antici-
patton, reasoned that now they
must circle the room before they
should face him-the interesting
SEPARATION II was a pilgrimage OF
whieh be On the other side was per
forming his half Perfunctorily talk
Ing from group TO group, conscious
now and again OF the tagging Clara or
Harry, she could nevertheless keep a
sly aye on the strangers equal prog
resz The fash OF jet and the volubIe,
substantial shoulders OF the lady so
p1cfDsely introducing him were an as
HEranee OF how that pilgrimage would
terminals, since il was Ella Butler who
was pSrzding him She even wondered
before which Of the norid pictures at
the lar. other end OF the room. as be-
fore q shrine, the ceremony would take
place
She kept her eyes fixed on the paint
ings before her, and as she moved
down from one to another and the
voices OF the approaching group drew
nearer, one separated itself from the
general murmur, so clear, so resonant
" carried. so clean clipped OF the
tongue, that il stood out in synables
or the blur Of sound which was Ella
Buffers conversation It had color.
that voice; 1t had a quality so sharp,
80 individual. that 1t touched her with
n nischievous wonder that he dared
speak SO differently from all the world
about him Then. six pictures away.
abe heard her own name
why. Flora Gilsey." It was Elias
husky. boyish note I've been looking
Cor you all the evening, How d'y'do
Harry she waved her hand at him
why. how d'y'do. Mrs. Britton-
wouldn't let papa go to supper until
rd found you Papa, 1 said, wait;
Flora and Harry viii be here Be
sides she had quite reached FIora's
side By this tine and communicated it
IN an Impressive whisper. 7 want you
to meet my Englishman." She looked
over her shoulder. and largely beck
ened TO where the blunt and ford
Butler and his companion, with their
backs TO what they were supposed to
l.
GnecdOte OF infinite amusement
Buffers expression came around
slowly 10 his daughters reckoning
hand. but the Englishman's face seemed
70 fash at the instant from what he
was enjoying TO what was expected of
him. In the flourish OF introductions,
across and across. Flora found herself
thinking the reality less extraordinary
than she had at first supposed Now
that Mr.. Kerr was fairly before her,
presented 10 her, and taking her in
with the same lively, inpersonal inter
est with which he took in the whole
room, as Il" she put it vexedly TO
herself. 7 were a specimen poked at
him on the end Of pin, II stirred
IN her a vague resentment, and invol-
UNFAIRLY she held him up 70 Harry The
comparison showed him little worn,
e little battered, a little too perfume
tory in manner. but his genial eyes,
deep under threatening brows, made
Earrv's eyes seem to stare rather cold
": and the fine form Of his long, plain
face. and the sensitive line Of his
long thin lips made Harry's beauty
look-well, how did it look? Hardly
callous.
This mixed expression the two men
gave her was disconcerting. She was
al the more ready to be wary Of the
Granger. She had begun with him in
stincuvely throwing out breastwork
Of conversation from behind which she
could observe the enemy. But though
he had bIinked at it. he had not taken
her up, nor helped her out; but had
merely stood with his head little
canted forward, as II he watched her
through her defenses.
But san Francisco must seem so
limited after London" she had wound
up; ard the way he mad considered ii,
e little humorously. down his long
nose, made her doubt the interest OF
cities 10 be reckoned in round numbers
It's all extraordinary, he said
you're quite as extraordinary in your
way as we in ours"
oh she wondered. still vexed with
his inventory. I had always supposed
US awfully commonplace. What is our
way, pleaseg
aAh." he said. measuring his long
step to hers as they sauntered lit
tie for one thing, you're so awfully
good TO a fellow. IN London"-and he
nodded back, as If London were mere
" across the room-"they're awfully
good 10 the somebodies. It's the way
you take in the nobodies over
here that IS so astonishing-the stray
leaves that blow in with your trade,
and can't show any credentials but a
letter or two, and their faces; and
those~-his diablerie danced out again
-"sometimes such deucedly damaged
ones"
II was almost indecent, this parade
Of his nonentity, She wanted to say.
.sOh. hush Those are the things one
only enjoys-never talks about" But
instead. somewhere UP at the top OF
her voice. she said: .'Oh, we always
lock up our silver
But even then" he quizzed her, Il
wonder how you dare TO do it,"
Perhaps we have to- because we
ourselves are all" ('.without any Gre
-dentials but those you mention,') she
had been about to say-but there she
caught herself on the very edge of
giving herself and all the rest OF them
away to him; all so awfully bored"
she rnischievously ended with the dain-
test, faintest possible yawn behind her
spread fan.
He looked as IL she had taken him
by surprise: then laughed out: -Oh.
that is the way they don't do here" he
provoked heF You mustn't. when I'm
not expecting IT."
Then what are you expecting2" she
inquired a little coolly.
Wen" he deliberat6d, not expecting
xo,, 10 GET me ready for a sweet and