--5.
It was fortunate for Fenton's plans that most of his guests had early
engagements that evening, and by nine o'clock he was able to leave the
house with Rangely to take his way to the meeting of the Club. As they
came out of the house, Thayer Kent was just saying good-by to Miss Mott
after putting her into her carriage. Fenton's fear lest he should be
too late for the business meeting had made him follow rather closely in
the steps of his departing guests, and he and Rangely were just in time
to hear Ethel say,--
"But I am going that way and I will drop you at the club."
Kent hesitated an instant, and then followed her into the carriage.
Fenton laughed as they drove away.
"With Ethel Mott," he said, "that is equivalent to announcing an
engagement."
"Nonsense!" protested Fred, incredulously.
Fenton laughed again, a little maliciously.
"Oh, I've been looking for it all winter," he said. "Ever since you
devoted yourself to Mrs. Staggchase, and gave Thayer his innings. Well,
since you didn't want her, I don't know that she could have done
better."
Fenton pretty well understood the truth of the matter in regard to
Rangely's relations to Ethel, and this little thrust was simply an
instalment toward the paying of sundry old scores. He had never
forgiven Fred for having taunted him, long ago, with going over to
Philistinism; especially, as he inwardly assured himself, that the
difference between their cases was that he had had the frankness openly
to renounce Paganism, while his companion would not acknowledge his
apostasy even to himself.
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