He was interested because he was expressing a cherished opinion, and he was talking in an emphatic tone because he hoped that he might be overheard.

When Mrs.
Berkeley drew him away in order to introduce him to Corinna, he resumed his theme immediately, as if he were addressing a public meeting and had scarcely noticed that there had been a change in his audience.

"Miss Berkeley was asking me what I thought of the effects of prohibition," he explained presently with his smile of unguarded friendliness.

How was it possible to arrest the attention of a man who insisted on talking of prohibition?
At the table a little later Corinna asked herself the question again, while she made light conversation for the retired general who had taken her in--an anecdotal, bewhiskered presence, with the husky voice and the glazed eyes of successful pomposity.

Glancing occasionally at Vetch who sat on her left, she found that he was describing to Mrs.Berkeley the best protection against forest fires.