Karl von Rosen should have reflected that the Zenith Club was one of the institutions of Fairbridge, and met upon a Friday, and that Mrs.George B.Slade's house was an exceedingly likely rendezvous, but he was singularly absent-minded as to what was near, and very present minded as to what was afar.

That which should have been near was generally far to his mind, which was perpetually gathering the wool of rainbow sheep in distant pastures.
If there was anything in which Karl von Rosen did not take the slightest interest, it was women's clubs in general and the Zenith Club in particular; and here he was, doomed by his own lack of thought to sit through an especially long session.

He had gone out for a walk.

To his mind it was a fine winter's day.

The long, glittering lights of ice pleased him and whenever he was sure that he was unobserved he took a boyish run and long slide.