She greeted Arkwright with a slight, absent smile, seemed hardly to note Craig, as Arkwright presented him.
"Sit down here beside Miss Severence," Grant said.
"Yes, do," acquiesced Margaret; and Joshua thought her cold and haughty, an aristocrat of the unapproachable type, never natural and never permitting others to be natural.
"And tell her all about yourself," continued Grant.
"My friend Josh, here," he explained to Margaret, "is one of those serious, absorbed men who concentrate entirely upon themselves.

It isn't egotism; it's genius." Craig was ruffled and showed it.

He did not like persiflage; it seemed an assault upon dignity, and in those early days in Washington he was full of dignity and of determination to create a dignified impression.
He reared haughtily and looked about with arrogant, disdainful eyes.
"Will you have tea ?" said Miss Severence, as Arkwright moved away.
"No, thanks," replied Craig.

"Tea's for the women and the children." Miss Severence's expression made him still more uncomfortable.

"Well," said she, "if you should feel dry as you tell me about yourself, there's whiskey over on that other table.