On his thin nose the dew glistened, and his thick fat hands were hot; but Rosamund was too bored to be rude to him, and Alixe turned immediately to Gerald: "Yes, I did get your note, but I'm not at home on Tuesday.

Can't you come--wait a moment!--what are you doing this afternoon ?" "Why, I'm going back to the office with Mr.Neergard--" "Nonsense! Oh, Mr.Neergard, _would_ you mind"-- very sweetly--"if Mr.
Erroll did not go to the office this afternoon ?" Neergard looked at her--almost--a fixed and uncomfortable smirk on his round, red face: "Not at all, Mrs.Ruthven, if you have anything better for him--" "I have--an allopathic dose of it.

Thank you, Mr.Neergard.
Rosamund, we ought to start, you know: Gerald!"-- with quiet significance--"_good_-bye, Mr.Neergard.Please do not buy up the rest of Long Island, because we need a new kitchen-garden very badly." Rosamund scarcely nodded his dismissal.

And the next moment Neergard found himself quite alone, standing with the smirk still stamped on his stiffened features, his hat-brim and gloves crushed in his rigid fingers, his little black mousy eyes fixed on nothing, as usual.
A wandering head-waiter thought they were fixed on him and sidled up hopeful of favours, but Neergard suddenly snarled in his face and moved toward the door, wiping the perspiration from his nose with the most splendid handkerchief ever displayed east of Sixth Avenue and west of Third.
Mrs.Ruthven's motor moved up from its waiting station; Rosamund was quite ready to enter when Alixe said cordially: "Where can we drop you, dear?
_Do_ let us take you to the exchange if you are going there--" Now Rosamund had meant to go wherever they were going, merely because they evidently wished to be alone.

The abruptness of the check both irritated and amused her.
"If I knew anybody in the Bronx I'd make you take me there," she said vindictively; "but as I don't you may drop me at the Orchils'-- you uncivil creatures.