Waymark had little doubt that those questions indicated a desire to become acquainted with his friends; the desire was natural, under the circumstances.

Still, he regretted what he had done.

To introduce Ida to his friends would be almost equivalent to avowing some conventional relations between her and himself.

And, in the next place, it would be an obstacle in the way of those relations becoming anything but conventional.

Well, and was not this exactly the kind of aid he needed in pursuing the course which he felt to be right?
Truly; yet-- At this point Waymark broke into that half contemptuous, half indulgent laugh which so frequently interrupted his self-communings, and, it being nearly one o'clock, set out to call for Ida.