Пробный камень
I
Hemovedabouttheroom,lingeringhereandthereinatentativeaffectationofinterest;butthoughthemengreetedhimpleasantlynooneaskedhimtodine.Doubtlesstheywereallengaged,thesemenwhocouldaffordtopayfortheirdinners,whodidnothavetohuntforinvitationsasabeggarrummagesforacrustinanash-barrel!Butno—asHollingsworthleftthelesseningcircleaboutthetableanadmiringyouthcalledout—“Holly,stopanddine!”
Hollingsworthturnedonhimthecrudecountenancethatlookedlikethewrongsideofamorefinishedface.“SorryIcan’t.I’minforabeastlybanquet.”
Glennardthrewhimselfintoanarm-chair.Whygohomeintheraintodress?Itwasfollytotakeacabtotheopera,itwasworsefollytogothereatall.HisperpetualmeetingswithAlexaTrentwereasunfairtothegirlastheywereunnervingtohimself.Sincehecouldn’tmarryher,itwastimetostandasideandgiveabettermanthechance—andhisthoughtadmittedtheironicalimplicationthatinthetermsofexpediencythephrasemightstandforHollingsworth.
