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 much because he had any intention of going, as because he felt too wretched to sit still.

"I'm not doing so badly," he began.

Let me see—you are an automobile salesman?" said Mrs. Rolles, and if she had said, you are a creeping worm, she would not have needed to change her tone.

"Yes, and a very good one, too," returned Bevans. "I sold a car yesterday to old Johns, Homer Johns of the New Republic Bank, you know?"

Mrs.Rolles inclined her head; she herself kept a very small balance at the New Republic, and insisted in return that the president should see her whenever she stopped in and advise her about investments.

"Well, then you know he's not an easy man to manage, and he did not really want this car a bit, yet I sold it to him, and even made him drive me home in it. It isn't every man could do that, now is it, Mrs. Rolles?" He looked at her wistfully, but she would not catch his eye. She was thinking that it was really high time for him to go, or Susie, obediently keeping out of the way in response to a parental command, might get restless. "Some of Susie's friends have married much vulgarer people than me." he pleaded.