He had made himself particularly agreeable to Sybil by confiding in her all his hopes and fears about the tariff and the finances.

When the ladies left the table, Ratcliffe could not stay for a cigar; he must get back to his rooms, where he knew several men were waiting for him; he would take his leave of the ladies and hurry away.

But when the gentlemen came up nearly an hour afterwards they found Ratcliffe still taking his leave of the ladies, who were delighted at his entertaining conversation; and when at last he really departed, he said to Mrs.Lee, as though it were quite a matter of course: "You are at home as usual to-morrow evening ?" Madeleine smiled, bowed, and he went his way.
As the two sisters drove home that night, Madeleine was unusually silent.
Sybil yawned convulsively and then apologized: "Mr.Schneidekoupon is very nice and good-natured, but a whole evening of him goes a long way; and that horrid Senator Krebs would not say a word, and drank a great deal too much wine, though it couldn't make him any more stupid than he is.

I don't think I care for senators." Then, wearily, after a pause: "Well, Maude, I do hope you've got what you wanted.

I'm sure you must have had politics enough.