"
He gave her a quick glance, at once the unhappiest and the most human
look that she had ever seen upon his face.
"No," said she, gently,--"if you are on the table, you have put yourself
there this time."
"Well, good-by--"
"And are you coming to see me--to pay your party-call?"
"Why should I? What is the point of these conventions--these little
rules--?"
"Don't you _like_ being with me? Don't you get a _great deal_ of
pleasure from my society?"
"I have never asked myself such a question."
He was gazing at her for a third time; and a startled look sprang
suddenly into his eyes. It was plain that he was asking himself such a
question now. A curious change passed over his face; a kind of dawning
consciousness which, it was obvious, embarrassed him to the point of
torture, while he resolutely declined to flinch at it.
"Yes--I get pleasure from your society."
The admission turned him rather white, but he saved himself by instantly
flinging at her: "However, _I am no hedonist_."
Sharlee retired to look up hedonist in the dictionary.
* * * * *
Later that evening, Mrs.
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