paper would never get to press if I took time to unsplit all my infinitives."
"Well, put Billy Durgin to work on her case right away," I said to cheer him. "If the woman talks like that, I'll bet Billy can find some good reason why she ought to push on after the Colonel."
Again his deeply thoughtful gaze bore upon me.
"I'm puzzled," he said,—"honestly puzzled. I don't know whether she'll be good for this town or not. She may in a way—and in a way she may not. She will be disturbing,—I can see that already,—but she is stimulating. She may stir us up to nobler endeavors."
"Did she say so?"
"Well—uh—something of the sort. I believe that was the expression she used. I'll tell you what you do. You come along with me and see the lady right now. They've had dinner by this time."
Together we went and were presently climbing the stairs that led to the second floor of the City Hotel.
Mrs. Potts received us graciously. Upon me she bestowed a glance of friendly curiosity, as does a kind physician who waits to be told of symptoms before prescribing. Upon Solon she bent a more knowing look, as upon one whose frailties have already been revealed. She gave us chairs and she talked. Little Roscoe Potts writhed near by upon an ottoman and betrayed that he, too, could talk when circumstances were kindly. The detail of their personalities, salient in that first moment, was that
