And now a demure bride or two emerged in all the radiance of perfect love and raiment, squired by _him_, braving the searching sunshine with confidence in her beauty, her plumage, and a kindly planet; and, in pitiful contrast, here and there some waxen-faced invalid, wheeled by a trained nurse, in cap and cuffs, through sunless halls into the clear sea air, to lie motionless, with leaden lids scarcely parted, in the glory of a perfect day.
A gentleman, rotund of abdomen, wearing a stubby red moustache, screwed a cigar firmly into the off corner of his mouth and, after looking aggressively at Hamil for fully half a minute, said: "Southern Pacific sold off at the close." "Indeed," said Hamil.
"It's like picking daisies," said the gentleman impressively.

And, after a pause, during which he continued to survey the younger man: "What name ?" he inquired, as though Hamil had been persistently attempting to inform him.
Hamil told him good-naturedly.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr.Hamil.My name is Rawley--probably the name is familiar to you ?--Ambrose Rawley"-- he coughed--"by profession a botanist." Hamil smiled, recognising in the name the most outrageously expensive of New York florists who had made a fortune in cut flowers.
"Have a drink ?" persisted Mr.Rawley.

"No?
Too early for you?
Well, let's get a couple of niggers and wheel-chairs." But Hamil declined with the easy good-humour which characterised him; and a few moments later, learning at the office that his aunt would receive him, followed his negro guide through endless carpeted labyrinths and was ushered by a maid into a sunny reception-room.
"Garry!--you dear boy!" exclaimed his amazingly youthful aunt, holding out both arms to him from the door of her bedroom, partly ajar.
"No--don't come near me; I'm not even in complete negligee yet, but I will be in one minute when Titine fastens me up and makes the most of my scanty locks--" She looked out at him with a laugh and gave her head a little jerk forward, and her splendid chestnut hair came tumbling down in the sunshine.
"You're prettier than ever," said her nephew; "they'll take us for bride and groom as usual.

I say, Constance, I suppose they've followed you down here." "Who, Garry,"-- very innocently.
"The faithful three, Colonel Vetchen, Cuyp, and old--I mean the gracefully mature Courtlandt Classon.

Are they here ?" "I believe so, dear," admitted his aunt demurely.