They heard with politeness, too, what he could contrive
to drag in about his artist-nephew, and said it must be
very pleasant for him to have such nice company. At least
Miss Madden said this: her companion, as he thought it
over afterward, seemed hardly to have said anything at all.
She answered the few remarks which he found it possible
to direct to her, but the responses took no hold upon
his memory. He fancied that she was bored, or unhappy,
or both.
Finally, in the midst of commonplaces which, to his apprehension,
were verging upon flatness, a bold inspiration disclosed
itself--as splendid as the Dent du Midi revealing
its glaciers above the mounting sunrise--in his brain.
"We should all be charmed if you would come up and dine
with us tonight," he said, under the abrupt impulsion
of this idea. "It's been such an age since we wanderers
have had the privilege of company at our table!"
The felicity of these phrases from his lips attracted
his admiring attention, even while he waited in suspense
for an answer to them.
The ladies exchanged a look. "Yes," said Miss Madden,
after the slightest of pauses, "we shall be very happy."
Shortly thereafter Thorpe took his leave, and went
downstairs and out. He wandered about till luncheon
time, observing the mountains across the lake from
various standpoints, and, as it were, with new eyes.
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