It was a wedding present
from Ida.
Sally caught the smile, and almost immediately came over to a seat
by Waymark; and, whilst the others were engaged in loud talk, spoke
with him privately.
"Have you seen her lately?" she asked.
"Not for some weeks," the other replied, shaking his head.
"Well, it's the queerest thing I ever knew, s'nough! But, there,"
she added, with an arch glance, "some men are that stupid--"
Waymark laughed slightly, and again shook his head.
"All a mistake," he said.
"Yes, that's just what it is, you may depend upon it. I more'n half
believe you're telling fibs."
Tumblers of whisky were soon smoking on the table, and all except
Casti laughed and talked to their heart's content. Casti was no
kill-joy; he smiled at all that went on, now and then putting in a
friendly word; but the vitality of the others was lacking in him,
and the weight which crushed him night and day could not so easily
be thrown aside. O'Gree was abundant in reminiscences of academic
days, and it would not have been easy to resist altogether the
comical vigour of his stories, all without one touch of real
bitterness or malice.
"Bedad," he cried, "I sent old Pendy a business prospectus, with my
compliments written on the bottom of it.
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