“And she is very much in society here, isn't she?”
“Yes. That's natural, too, with her smartness and all.”
“Hey? What kind? Why, it's the genuine gilt-edged kind, I should say. _I_ never saw such clothes, nor such dinners, nor dances. It--”
“Hush! Yes, I can believe all that. You wouldn't be likely to see them--in Trumet. And I can believe in the gilt; the genuine part is what I am most doubtful of. Mrs. Black is as influential with Mother as ever, isn't she?”
“Yes. She and Serena bein' such close friends, it--”
“I know. Tell me, Daddy, are the rest of Mother's friends like the Blacks?”
“Pretty much. They're all the same tribe--that is, I mean they're all brilliant, fashionable folks.”
“I see. What sort of friends have YOU made?”
This was straight from the shoulder and the captain was somewhat staggered.
“Well,” he admitted, after a slight pause, “I--I ain't made so dreadful many friends, Gertie. Most of the men here are--are kind of different from me, seems so. They belong to clubs and such, and they're out a lot nights. I don't care for goin' out much; I've always been a great home body--you know that, Gertie. I don't doubt, if I joined the club and went to 'stag' dinners and so on, I'd have more friends. It ain't their fault, you know, it's me.”
“Yes, it always is you, isn't it, Daddy? No one else is to blame, of course. Well, I'm very glad I came when I did. How many evenings have you spent alone, as you were spending this one?”
“Why didn't you go to the Chapter to-night? It must have been an open meeting, otherwise Mr. Hungerford couldn't have gone. Why didn't you go with Mother?”
Here was the one question Daniel had dreaded most. To answer it truthfully meant telling of the quarrel between Serena and himself. He could not tell that, not even to his daughter.
“I--I didn't feel like goin', somehow,” he faltered.
“That's strange. I knew that you were not particularly interested in the Chapter--at least you never were in Trumet--but I never knew you to stay at home when Mother asked you to go with her. Did she ask you?”
“Now--now, Gertie, 'tain't likely I--I--”
“Never mind; you needn't answer. Tell me more about this new relative of ours, 'Cousin Percy.' Do you like him, now that you really know him?”