A man had to think of his old age.

He told himself that he must be the lightest product of a flippant time, since these things did not occur to him more seriously; and he threw himself into all that had to be done upon "the place," when he arrived at it, with an energy that disposed its real administrators to believe that his ultimate salvation as a landlord was still possible.
He was talking to Janet Cardiff at one of Lady Halifax's afternoon teas a fortnight later, when their hostess advanced toward them interrogatively.

"While I think of it, Janet," said she laying a mittened hand on Miss Cardiff's arm, "what has become of your eccentric little American friend?
I sent her a card a month ago, and we've neither heard nor seen anything of her." "Elfrida Bell--oh, she's out of town, Lady Halifax, and I am rather desolate without her--we see so much of her, you know.

But she will be back soon--I dare say I will be able to bring her next Thursday.

How delicious this coffee is! I shall have another cup, if it keeps me awake for a week.