CHAPTER II.

When Brant returned to his hotel there was an augmented respect in the voice of the clerk as he handed him a note with the remark that it had been left by Senator Boompointer's coachman. He had no difficulty in recognizing Susy's peculiarly Brobdingnagian school-girl hand.

"Kla'uns, I call it real mean! I believe you just HOPED I wouldn't know you. If you're a bit like your old self you'll come right off here--this very night! I've got a big party on--but we can talk somewhere between the acts! Haven't I growed? Tell me! And my! what a gloomy swell the young brigadier is! The carriage will come for you--so you have no excuse."

The effect of this childish note upon Brant was strangely out of proportion to its triviality. But then it was Susy's very triviality--so expressive of her characteristic irresponsibility--which had always affected him at such moments. Again, as at Robles, he felt it react against his own ethics. Was she not right in her delightful materialism? Was she not happier than if she had been consistently true to Mrs. Peyton, to the convent, to the episode of her theatrical career, to Jim Hooker--even to himself? And did he conscientiously believe that Hooker or himself had suffered from her inconsistency? No! From all that he had heard, she was a suitable helpmate to the senator, in her social attractiveness, her charming ostentations, her engaging vanity that disarmed suspicion, and her lack of responsibility even in her partisanship. Nobody ever dared to hold the senator responsible for her promises, even while enjoying the fellowship of both, and it is said that the worthy man singularly profited by it. Looking upon the invitation as a possible distraction to his gloomy thoughts, Brant resolved to go.

Answer this series of questions:

1. Who handed Brant the message?
2. Who gave it to him?
3. Who wrote it?
4. What was different about the clerk when he gave it to him?
5. How did he know it was Susy that sent it?
6. How did did it embody her?
7. What did she want from him?
8. Where would they meet?
9. How would he get there?
10. Did he plan to go?
11. What was her occupation?
12. Whom did she assist?
13. What aspect of her personality deflected criticism?
14. Was she effective?

Numbered answers:
1. hotel clerk
2. Senator Boompointer's coachman
3. Susy
4. he had more respect
5. recognized her handwriting
6. childish and trivial
7. to go and see her
8. unknown
9. Shell sent a carriage
10. Yes
11. a theatrical career,
12. the senator
13. vanity
14. yes