checked the gesture, and sat helplessly, with the
sandwich in his hand. He made another effort to
get rid of it as the waitress passed him, on her way
back to the dining-room, but she appeared not to
observe him, and he continued to be troubled by it.

Alice was a loyal daughter. "These are delicious,
mama," she said; and turning to Russell, "You
missed it; you should have taken one. Too bad we
couldn't have offered you what ought to go with it,
of course, but--"

She was interrupted by the second entrance of
Gertrude, who announced, "Dinner serve'," and
retired from view.

"Well, well!" Adams said, rising from his chair,
with relief. "That's good! Let's go see if we can
eat it." And as the little group moved toward the
open door of the dining-room he disposed of his
sandwich by dropping it in the empty fireplace.

Alice, glancing back over her shoulder, was the
only one who saw him, and she shuddered in spite of
herself. Then, seeing that he looked at her en-
treatingly, as if he wanted to explain that he was
doing the best he could, she smiled upon him sunnily,
and began to chatter to Russell again.

-368-