The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-05

giving you such a lot Of extra work
just now"
"Oh, that's no matter" said Way
thorn hastily. He secretly welcomed
the pressure Of additional business and
was glad to think that when the days
work was over he would have to call
at his partners on the way home.
He was late for luncheon and turned
in at the nearest restaurant instead Of
going to his club. The place was full
and the waiter hurried him to the back
of the room TO capture the only vacant
table. In the cloud Of cigar smoke
Waythorn did not at once distinguish
his neighbors. but presently, looking
about him. he saw Varick seated a few
feet off. This time, luckily they were
too far apart for conversation. and Var
lex. who faced another way, had prob
ably not even seen him. but there was
an irony in their renewed nearness.
Varlck was said to be fond OF good
living, and as Waythorn sat despatch
ing his hurried luncheon he looked
across half enviously at the others
lesurely degustation Of his meal. When
Waythorn first saw him he had been
helping himself. with critical dellbera-
ton to a bit Of Camembert at the ideal
point OF liquefactlon. and now, the
cheese removed he was just pouring
his cafe double from its little two
stored earthen pot. He poured slowly.
his rudy profile bent above the task,
and one berlnged white hand steadying
the lid Of the coffee pot then he
stretched his other hand to the decanter
of cognac eat his elbow. filled llqueur
glass. stook a tentative sip and poured
the brandy into his coffee cup.
waythorn watched him in kind OF
fascination. What was he thinking of
only of the flavor of the coffee and
the liqueur? Had the mornings meet
ing left no more trace in his thoughts
than on his face? Had his wife so COM
plet,ly passed out of his life that even
this odd encounter with her present
husband within a week after her re-
marriage was no more than an incident
in his day? And as Waythorn unused
another idea struck him; had Haskell
ever met Narick as Varick and he had
just met? The recollection Of Haskell
perturbed him and he rose and left the
restaurant. taking a circuitous way out
to escape the placid irony Of Narick's
nod.
1t was after when Waythorn
reached home. He thought the foot
man who opened the door looked at him
oddly.
How is Miss Llly?" he asked in haste
Doing very we'll. sir. A gentle
man."
Tell Barlow to put off dinner for half
an hour" Waythorn cut him of, hurry
ing upstairs.
He went straight to his room and
dressed without seeing his wife. When
he reached the drawing room she was
there, fresh and radiant. Lllys day had
been good: the doctor was not coming
back that evening.
At dinner waythorn told her OF Sell
erss Illness and OF the resulting COM
p.ications. She listened sympathetically.
adjuring him not to let himself be over
worked and asking vague feminine
questions about the routine Of the Office.
Then she gave him the chronicle Of
I.lly's day: quoted the nurse and doc
Tor and told him who had called IL in
cure. lie had never seen her more
serene and unrutiled. 1t struck him,
with curious pang. that she was very
happy in being with him. so happy that
she found childish pleasure in re-
hearslng the trivial incidents Of her day.
After dinner they went to the library
and the servant put the coffee and
!.lueurs on a low table before her and
left the room. She looked sin.ularly
soft and girlish in her rosy pale dress
against the dark leather of one of his
bachelor armchairs. \ day earlier the
contrast would have charmed him.
He turned away now. choosing a cigar
with affected elaboration.