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 reason to suppose we were prepared to offer her any more entertainment than that, even if she sat here all afternoon."

For himself and his friend Albert there appeared to be more consolation in this viewpoint than for Ogle, who had been two hours engaged in offering her entertainment; nevertheless, he accepted the theory of her interest in specimens and found a slight solace in it. But another thought of Macklyn's did not add to the clarity of the playwright's mind, already somewhat painfully mystified.

"There was one inconsistency I don't understand," said Macklyn. "When he delicately asked her if she was a widow, she scolded him with that retort to the effect that he had been complaining publicly, as it were, of his wife. Of course the creature himself hadn't any idea he'd been scolded; but that's beside the point. Why should she resent his asking her if she was a widow and then not be offended, even be pleased apparently, by his much grosser references to her personal appearance and his charming implications of his wife's jealousy? That's what I don't see."

Neither did the playwright nor Albert Jones; there appeared to be no solution.