"What," she asked sweetly, "after——" "You broke an engagement with me last night!" blurted out the bachelor, looking the widow straight in the eyes. But the widow shifted her gaze to the park across the street and swung her chatelaine indifferently. "And you weren't 'at home' to me the day before yesterday and you were out of town for a week before that; and you promised me that this afternoon——" "Did I?" asked the widow, looking up innocently. "Yes, you did!" declared the bachelor. "Oh, well," laughed the widow, as[115] she tripped up the steps with a wave of her muff, "I was only showing you the sugar bowl; but I didn't mean you could have another spoonful; besides," she added, turning round and talking through the tunnel in her muff, "there's somebody waiting inside." [115] "Who?" demanded the bachelor. "The man with the 'tired feeling'," said the widow. "But," began the bachelor in a puzzled voice, "if he is tired of—of you——" "Me!" the widow laughed. "He isn't tired of me, Mr. Travers. It's—the other woman. He came to me for—for——" "A bracer?" suggested the bachelor. "What are you going to give him?" he added.[116] [116] "Vinegar, mustard, pepper, salt," said the widow counting off the buttons of her coat, child fashion. The bachelor looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Anything else?" he asked. "A little—ice," said the widow, gazing out over the park. "Anything else?" persisted the bachelor. The widow studied her muff musingly. "Oh—I don't know," she said, doubtfully.
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