The report that Mr.Upjohn had apostatized from the Presbyterian Church, disapproving of its tenets as regarded waltzing, was duly started, denied, violently adopted, and as violently exploded.

The statements that Jake Dexter was engaged to Nellie Atterbury, that Bell Masters had offered herself to Mr.Halloway and been declined with thanks, and that Gerald's hat had been imported from Paris two days before, were also duly aired and evaporated.

It had, moreover, by this time become a town fact, that it was Bell Masters and _not_ Janet Mudge whom Halloway had rowed to the party, and that he had walked home with Mrs.Lane.Miss Brooks overheard him taking leave of her at her door, and fancied--but was not sure--that she told him to change his boots lest his feet should be damp.

Everybody had also found out beyond discussion or doubt that De Forest was Gerald's escort home on that occasion, but that the engagement between them was broken off.
It was definitely known that he had said he was a blighted being, and should shortly take a return ticket to New York.

Everybody said it was a shame, when they were so manifestly cut out for each other.