divers of David's year having sought election, even with bribes; but Barbara was new to me. "Who is she?" I asked. "She's my sister." You may imagine how I gaped. "She hasn't come yet," David said lightly, "but she's coming." I was shocked, not perhaps so much shocked as disillusioned, for though I had always suspicioned Mary A---- as one who harboured the craziest ambitions when she looked most humble, of such presumption as this I had never thought her capable. I wandered across the Broad Walk to have a look at Irene, and she was wearing an unmistaka- ble air. It set me reflecting about Mary's husband and his manner the last time we met, for though I have had no opportunity to say so, we still meet now and again, and he has even dined with me at the club. On these occasions the subject of Tim- othy is barred, and if by any unfortunate accident Mary's name is mentioned, we immediately look opposite ways and a silence follows, in which I feel sure he is smiling, and wonder what the deuce he is smiling at. I remembered now that I had last seen him when I was dining with him at his club (for he is become member of a club of painter fellows, and Mary is so proud of this that -261- |