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my one compensation for the dreadful responsibility just thrust
upon me。 Our host has been suddenly called away； and I am left to
take his place。〃
Miss Nevil was slightly startled。 Nevertheless； she smiled
graciously。 〃From what I hear this is no new function of yours；
that is； if there really IS a Mr。 Rushbrook。 I am inclined to
think him a myth。〃
〃You make me wish he were；〃 retorted Somers； gallantly； 〃but as I
couldn't reign at all； except in his stead； I shall look to you to
lend your rightful grace to my borrowed dignity。〃
The more general announcement to the company was received with
a few perfidious regrets from the more polite； but with only
amused surprise by the majority。 Indeed； many considered it
〃characteristic〃〃so like Bob Rushbrook；〃 and a few enthusiastic
friends looked upon it as a crowning and intentional stroke of
humor。 It remained； however； for the gentleman from Siskyou to
give the incident a subtlety that struck Miss Nevil's fancy。 〃It
reminds me；〃 he said in her hearing； 〃of ole Kernel Frisbee； of
Robertson County； one of the purlitest men I ever struck。 When he
knew a feller was very dry； he'd jest set the decanter afore him；
and managed to be called outer the room on bus'ness。 Now； Bob
Rushbrook's about as white a man as that。 He's jest the feller；
who； knowing you and me might feel kinder restrained about
indulging our appetites afore him； kinder drops out easy； and
leaves us alone。〃 And she was impressed by an instinct that the
speaker really felt the delicacy he spoke of； and that it left no
sense of inferiority behind。
The dinner； served in a large； brilliantly…lit saloon； that in
floral decoration and gilded columns suggested an ingenious
blending of a steamboat table d'hote and 〃harvest home；〃 was
perfect in its cuisine； even if somewhat extravagant in its
proportions。
〃I should be glad to receive the salary that Rushbrook pays his
chef； and still happier to know how to earn it as fairly；〃 said
Somers to his fair companion。
〃But is his skill entirely appreciated here？〃 she asked。
〃Perfectly；〃 responded Somers。 〃Our friend from Siskyou over there
appreciates that 'pate' which he cannot name as well as I do。
Rushbrook himself is the only exception； yet I fancy that even HIS
simplicity and regularity in feeding is as much a matter of
business with him as any defect in his earlier education。 In his
eyes； his chef's greatest qualification is his promptness and
fertility。 Have you noticed that ornament before you？〃 pointing to
an elaborate confection。 〃It bears your initials； you see。 It was
conceived and executed since you arrivedrather； I should say；
since it was known that you would honor us with your company。 The
greatest difficulty encountered was to find out what your initials
were。〃
〃And I suppose；〃 mischievously added the young girl to her
acknowledgments； 〃that the same fertile mind which conceived the
design eventually provided the initials？〃
〃That is our secret；〃 responded Somers； with affected gravity。
The wines were of characteristic expensiveness； and provoked the
same general comment。 Rushbrook seldom drank wine； Somers had
selected it。 But the barbaric opulence of the entertainment
culminated in the Californian fruits； piled in pyramids on silver
dishes； gorgeous and unreal in their size and painted beauty； and
the two Divas smiled over a basket of grapes and peaches as
outrageous in dimensions and glaring color as any pasteboard
banquet at which they had professionally assisted。 As the courses
succeeded each other； under the exaltation of wine； conversation
became more general as regarded participation； but more local and
private as regarded the subject； until Miss Nevil could no longer
follow it。 The interests of that one； the hopes of another； the
claims of a third； in affairs that were otherwise uninteresting；
were all discussed with singular youthfulness of trust that to her
alone seemed remarkable。 Not that she lacked entertainment from
the conversation of her clever companion； whose confidences and
criticisms were very pleasant to her； but she had a gentlewoman's
instinct that he talked to her too much； and more than was
consistent with his duties as the general host。 She looked around
the table for her singular acquaintance of an hour before； but she
had not seen him since。 She would have spoken about him to Somers；
but she had an instinctive idea that the latter would be
antipathetic； in spite of the stranger's flattering commendation。
So she found herself again following Somers's cynical but good…
humored description of the various guests； and； I fear； seeing with
his eyes； listening with his ears； and occasionally participating
in his superior attitude。 The 〃fearful joy〃 she had found in the
novelty of the situation and the originality of the actors seemed
now quite right from this critical point of view。 So she learned
how the guest with the long hair was an unknown painter； to whom
Rushbrook had given a commission for three hundred yards of painted
canvas； to be cut up and framed as occasion and space required； in
Rushbrook's new hotel in San Francisco； how the gray…bearded
foreigner near him was an accomplished bibliophile who was
furnishing Mr。 Rushbrook's library from spoils of foreign
collections； and had suffered unheard…of agonies from the
millionaire's insisting upon a handsome uniform binding that should
deprive certain precious but musty tomes of their crumbling； worm…
eaten coverings； how the very gentle； clerical…looking stranger；
mildest of a noisy； disputing crowd at the other table； was a
notorious duelist and dead shot； how the only gentleman at the
table who retained a flannel shirt and high boots was not a late…
coming mountaineer； but a well…known English baronet on his
travels； how the man who told a somewhat florid and emphatic
anecdote was a popular Eastern clergyman； how the one querulous；
discontented face in a laughing group was the famous humorist who
had just convulsed it； and how a pale； handsome young fellow； who
ate and drank sparingly and disregarded the coquettish advances of
the prettiest Diva with the cold abstraction of a student； was a
notorious roue and gambler。 But there was a sudden and unlooked…
for change of criticism and critic。
The festivity had reached that stage when the guests were more or
less accessible to emotion； and more or less touched by the
astounding fact that every one was enjoying himself。 This
phenomenon； which is apt to burst into song or dance among other
races； is constrained to voice itself in an Anglo…Saxon gathering
by some explanation； apology； or moralknown as an after…dinner
speech。 Thus it was that the gentleman from Siskyou； who had been
from time to time casting glances at Somers and his fair companion
at the head of the table； now rose to his feet； albeit unsteadily；
pushed back his chair； and began：
〃'Pears to me； ladies and gentlemen； and feller pardners； that on
an occasion like this； suthin' oughter be said of the man who got
it upwhose money paid for it； and who ain't here to speak for
himself； except by deputy。 Yet you all know that's Bob Rushbrook's
stylehe ain't here； because he's full of some other plan or
improvementsand it's like him to start suthin' of this kind； give
it its aim and purpose； and then stand aside to let somebody else
run it for him。 There ain't no man livin' ez hez； so to speak；
more fast horses ready saddled for riding； and more fast men ready
spurred to ride 'em；whether to win his races or run his errands。
There ain't no man livin' ez knows better how to make other men's
games his； or his game seem to be other men's。 And from Jack
Somers smilin' over there； ez knows where to get the best wine that
Bob pays for； and knows how to run this yer show for Bob； at Bob's
expensewe're all contented。 Ladies and gentlemen； we're all
co