"It's the house yonder, with the white pillars--at half-after-six, then, sir."
As Croyden approached the Carrington house, he encountered Miss Carrington on the walk.
"We have met before," she said, as he bowed over her hand. "I was your original guide to Clarendon. Have you forgot?"
"Have I forgot?" said Croyden. "Do you think it possible?" looking her in the eyes.
"I wanted to know if you could say it," she answered, gayly.
"Muster--for what?" she asked, with a sly smile.
"Shall I put your name on the list--at the foot?" she laughed.
"The last comer--you have to work your way up by merit, you know."
"I shall try," he said. "Is it so very difficult of discovery?"
"No, it should not be so difficult--for you," she answered, with a flash of her violet eyes. "Mother!" as they reached the piazza--"let me present Mr. Croyden."
Mrs. Carrington arose to greet him--a tall, slender woman, whose age was sixty, at least, but who appeared not a day over forty-five, despite the dark gown and little lace cap she was wearing. She seemed what the girl had called her--the mother, rather than the grandmother. And when she smiled!
"Miss Carrington two generations hence. Lord! how do they do it?" thought Croyden.
"You play Bridge, of course, Mr. Croyden," said Miss Carrington, when the dessert was being served.
"I was sure you did--so sure, indeed, I asked a few friends in later--for a rubber or two--and to meet you."
"It is indeed!" laughed Mrs. Carrington--"that is, if you care aught for Davila's good opinion. If one can't play Bridge one would better not be born."
"When you know Mother a little better, Mr. Croyden, you will recognize that she is inclined to exaggerate at times," said Miss Carrington. "I admit that I am fond of the game, that I like to play with people who know how, and who, at the critical moment, are not always throwing the wrong card--you understand?"
"In other words, you haven't any patience with stupidity," said Croyden. "Nor have I--but we sometimes forget that a card player is born, not made. All the drilling and teaching one can do won't give card sense to one who hasn't any."
"Precisely!" Miss Carrington exclaimed, "and life is too short to bother with such people. They may be very charming otherwise, but not across the Bridge table."