Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/38

 *stance Maitland's name. Crane did likewise with the same motive, but having less self-control than Thorndyke he could not but hark back to the ticklish subject.

"So you say you knew Miss Maitland?"

"Yes. A long time ago."

"She's very old-fashioned; enough so to stay out of society when she is wearing mourning. She's been in mourning for her uncle by marriage ever since she's been in Washington—six months. The exclusives don't stay in mourning more than six months for husbands, wives, or children. Parents and aunts and uncles don't count."

"The exclusives don't have any aunts and uncles," Thorndyke put in shortly. "They have nieces and nephews who are presentable after they have been washed and combed—but they can't go back as far as uncles and aunts."

"So they can't. Their uncles and aunts are just like my uncles and aunts. Well, I gather that the old Baron for whom Miss Maitland has worn mourning wasn't a bad old party—better, perhaps, than his American wife."

"He was," said Thorndyke.