9/13 It appeared that the ladies had better success than in the morning, for he saw them later on in their steamer chairs with Mr.Carling, who was huddled in many wraps, with the flaps of his cap down over his ears. All the chairs were full--his own included (as happens to easy-tempered men)--and he had only a brief colloquy with the party. He noticed, however, that Mr.Carling had on the russet shoes, and wondered if they pinched him. In fact, though he couldn't have said exactly why, he rather hoped that they did. He had just that sympathy for the nerves of two-and-fifty which is to be expected from those of five-and-twenty--that is, very little. |