"It is so good of you to come early," said Mrs. Porter, as AliceLangham entered the drawing-room. "I want to ask a favor of you. I'msure you won't mind. I would ask one of the debutantes, except thatthey're always so cross if one puts them next to men they don't knowand who can't help them, and so I thought I'd just ask you, you're sogood-natured. You don't mind, do you?"
"I mind being called good-natured," said Miss Langham, smiling. "Mindwhat, Mrs. Porter?" she asked.
"He is a friend of George's," Mrs. Porter explained, vaguely. "He's acowboy. It seems he was very civil to George when he was out thereshooting in New Mexico, or Old Mexico, I don't remember which. He tookGeorge to his hut and gave him things to shoot, and all that, and nowhe is in New York with a letter of introduction. It's just likeGeorge. He may be a most impossible sort of man, but, as I said to Mr.Porter, the people I've asked can't complain, because I don't knowanything more about him than they do. He called to-day when I was outand left his card and George's letter of introduction, and as a man hadfailed me for to-night, I just thought I would kill two birds with onestone, and ask him to fill his place, and he's here. And, oh, yes,"Mrs. Porter added, "I'm going to put him next to you, do you mind?"
"Unless he wears leather leggings and long spurs I shall mind verymuch," said Miss Langham.
"Well, that's very nice of you," purred Mrs. Porter, as she moved away."He may not be so bad, after all; and I'll put Reginald King on yourother side, shall I?" she asked, pausing and glancing back.
The look on Miss Langham's face, which had been one of amusement,changed consciously, and she smiled with polite acquiescence.
"As you please, Mrs. Porter," she answered. She raised her eyebrowsslightly. "I am, as the politicians say, 'in the hands of my friends.'"
"Entirely too much in the hands of my friends," she repeated, as sheturned away. This was the twelfth time during that same winter thatshe and Mr. King had been placed next to one another at dinner, and ithad passed beyond the point when she could say that it did not matterwhat people thought as long as she and he understood. It had nowreached that stage when she was not quite sure that she understoodeither him or herself. They had known each other for a very long time;too l