summer."

"And you think you have left it for good and all?" asked Macloud, blowing a smoke-ring and watching him with contemplative eyes--"Well, the place is the same--only more so. A good many people have come back. The Heights is more lively than when you left, teas, and dinners, and tournaments and such like.--In town, the Northumberland's resuming its regulars--the theatres are open, and the Club has taken the bald-headed row on Monday nights as usual. Billy Cain has turned up engaged, also as usual--this time, it's a Richmond girl, 'regular screamer,' he says. It will last the allotted time, of course--six weeks was the limit for the last two, you'll remember. Smythe put it all over Little in the tennis tournament, and 'Pud' Lester won the golf championship. Terry's horse, Peach Blossom, fell and broke its neck in the high jump, at the Horse Show; Terry came out easier--he broke only his collar-bone. Mattison is the little bounder he always was--a month hasn't changed him--except for the worse. Hungerford is a bit sillier. Colloden is the same bully fellow; he is disconsolate, now, because he is beginning to take on flesh." Whereat both laughed. "Danridge is back from the North Cape, via Paris, with a new drink he calls The Spasmodic--it's made of gin, whiskey, brandy, and absinthe, all in a pint of sarsaparilla. He says it's great--I've not sampled it, but judging from those who have he is drawing it mild.... Betty Whitridge and Nancy Wellesly have organized a Sinners Class, prerequisites for membership in which are that you play Bridge on Sundays and have abstained from church for at least six months. It's limited to twenty. They filled it the first morning, and have a waiting list of something over seventy-five.... That is about all I can think of that's new."

"Has any one inquired about me?" Croyden asked--with the lingering desire one has not to be forgot.

Macloud shot a questioning glance at him.

"Beyond the fact that the bankruptcy schedules show you were pretty hard hit, I've heard no one comment," he said. "They think you're in Europe. Elaine Cavendish is sponsor for that report--she says you told her you were called, suddenly, abroad."

Croyden nodded. Then, after a pause:

"Any one inclined to play the devoted, there?" he asked.

"Plenty inclined--plenty anxious," replied Macloud. "I'm looking a bit that way myself--I may get into the running, since you are out of it," he added.

Croyden made 

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