Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/211

 look in this evening, Hangon, about eleven o'clock?"

The mighty parasite nodded a reply, lifted his hat, and with a sigh of relief at the two hours of liberty granted him, walked off in the opposite direction. Farvvell and Hewson drove up the long wide avenue past the empty houses with closed blinds.

"How utterly desolate the city looks! People are coming back later and later every season." Farwell was the speaker.

"It's not wonderful," answered his companion in his peevish, fevered voice. "How can any one be anxious, or even willing, to come back to this cursed city a day before they are obliged to?"

"How many days have you been out of town this summer?"

"Every Sunday, and on the Fourth of July."

"You have taken no vacation?"

"Not a day."

"How long is it since you have taken a leave of absence from the city?"