This was hardly the treatment Parker had expected at the hands of one who
had been undeniably gracious to him at the card-table the night before.
He had received the notice that she was to be his partner at the tables
with misgivings, on his arrival at Mrs. Stoughton’s, because his
recollection of her behavior towards him at the MacFarland dance had led
him to believe that he was personally distasteful to her; but as the
evening at cards progressed he felt instinctively drawn towards her, and
her vivacity of manner, cleverness at repartee, and extreme amiability
towards himself had completely won his heart, which victory their little
tête-à-tête during supper had confirmed. But here, this morning, was
reversion to her first attitude. What could it mean? Why should she
treat him so?
(“I couldn’t answer that question to save my life,” said Stuart. “That
is, not then, but I found out later. I put it in, however, and let
Parker draw his own conclusions. I’d have helped him out if I could, but
I couldn’t. Go on and see for yourself.”