AshecameoutintothelobbyArcherranacrosshisfriendNedWinsett, theonlyoneamongwhatJaneycalledhis "cleverpeople" withwhomhecaredtoprobeintothingsalittledeeperthantheaveragelevelofclubandchop-housebanter.
Hehadcaughtsight, acrossthehouse, ofWinsett'sshabbyround-shoulderedback, , , whowasnotinthemoodforthekindoftalktheywerelikelytogetthere, declinedonthepleathathehadworktodoathome; andWinsettsaid: "Oh, wellsohaveIforthatmatter, andI'llbetheIndustriousApprenticetoo."
Theystrolledalongtogether, andpresentlyWinsettsaid: "Lookhere, whatI'mreallyafteristhenameofthedarkladyinthatswellboxofyours—withtheBeauforts, wasn'tshe? TheoneyourfriendLeffertsseemssosmittenby."
Archer, hecouldnothavesaidwhy, 'sname? Andaboveall, whydidhecoupleitwithLefferts's? ItwasunlikeWinsetttomanifestsuchcuriosity; butafterall, Archerremembered, hewasajournalist.
"It'snotforaninterview, Ihope?" helaughed.
"Well—notforthepress; justformyself," Winsettrejoined."Thefactisshe'saneighbourofmine— queerquarterforsuchabeautytosettlein—andshe'sbeenawfullykindtomylittleboy, whofelldownherareachasinghiskitten, , carryinghiminherarms, withhiskneeallbeautifullybandaged, andwassosympatheticandbeautifulthatmywifewastoodazzledtoaskhername."
ApleasantglowdilatedArcher': anywomanwouldhavedoneasmuchforaneighbour', hefelt, tohaverushedinbareheaded, carryingtheboyinherarms, .
"ThatistheCountessOlenska—'s."
"Whew—aCountess!" whistledNedWinsett."Well, Ididn''t."
"Theywouldbe, ifyou'dletthem."
