He would have felt kinder to her had she shown any "airs and graces," which he could have commented upon and forgiven.

He stammered some vague excuse of preoccupation, yet lingered in the hope of saying something which, if not aggressively unpleasant, might at least transfer to her indolent serenity some of his own irritation.

"I reckon," he said, as he moved hesitatingly toward the door, "that Spencer has made himself easy and secure in them business risks he's taking.

That 'ere Alameda ditch affair they're talking so much about is a mighty big thing, rather _too_ big if it ever got to falling back on him.

But I suppose he's accustomed to take risks ?" "Of course he is," said Mrs.Tucker gayly.