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here and what could be the fascination of sitting round these cold tables talking by the hour when there was so much happiness outsideso much of light and air and sunshine free to everybody。
He was； moreover； a little constrained and uncomfortable。 There was none of the welcome of Mr。 Crocker's studio about this place； nor any of the comforting companionship of the jolly old cashier； who made the minutes fly as if they had wings； and that； too； in a musty bank far more uninviting even than the club。 He remembered his mother's message nowand he remembered her face and the anxious expressionas we always remember duties when we are uncomfortable。 He meant to hurry home to her as soon as the Colonel dismissed him； and tell her how it had all happened； and how sorry he was； and what a stupid he had been； and she would forgive him as she had a hundred times before。
As he sat absorbed in these thoughts his attention was attracted by a conversation at the adjoining table between that dare…devil cross…country rider； Tom Gunning of Calvert County； old General McTavish of the Mexican War； and Billy Talbot the exquisite。 Gunning was in his corduroys and hunting…boots。 He always wore them when he came to town； even when dining with his friends。 He had them on now； the boots being specially in evidence； one being hooked over the chair on which he sat and within a foot of Oliver's elbow。 None of these peculiarities； however； made the slightest difference in Kennedy Square； so far as Gunning's social position was concernedTom's mother having been a Carroll and his grandfather once Governor of the State。
The distinguished cross…country rider was telling General McTavish； immaculate in black wig； blue coat； pepper…and…salt trousers and patent…leather shoes； and red…faced Billy Talbot； of an adventure that he； Gunning； had had the night before while driving home to his plantation。 The exquisite's costume was in marked contrast to those of the other twoit was his second change that day。 At this precise moment he was upholstered in peg…top； checker…board trousers； bob…tail Piccadilly coat； and a one…inch brim straw hat； all of the latest English pattern。 Everything； in fact； that Billy possessed was English； from a rimless monocle decorating his left eye； down to the animated door…mat of a skye…terrier that followed at his heels。
Oliver saw from the way in which McTavish leaned over the table； protecting the tray with his two arms； that he was in command of the decanter； and that the duty of alleviating the thirst of his companions had devolved upon the General。 Billy Talbot sat with his hat tipped back on his head； his chin resting on his abbreviated cane； his eyes fixed on Gunning。 Both McTavish and Talbot were listening intently to the cross…country rider's story。
〃And you say you were sober； Gunning？〃 Oliver heard the General ask； with a scrutinizing look at Tom。 Not with any humorous intentmore with the manner of a presiding officer at a court…martial； determined to establish certain essential facts。
〃As a clock； General。 The first thing I knew the mare shied and I came pretty near landin' in the dirt。〃 （The lower county men always dropped their g's。） 〃He was lyin'； I tell you； right across the road。 If it hadn't been for Kitty； I would have run him down。 I got out and held onto the reins； and there he was； sir； stretched out as drunk as a lord； flat on his back and sound asleep。 I saw right away that he was a gentleman； and I tied the mare to a tree； picked him up with the greatest care； laid him on the side of the road； put his hat under his head； and made him as comfortable as I could； when； by George； sir！ I hadn't any more than got back to my buggy； when bang！ went a ball within a foot of my head！〃
The General； who； as he listened； had been repointing the waxed ends of his dyed mustache with his lemon…colored kid gloves； now leaned back in his chair。
〃Fired at you； sir？〃 The General had served both at Chapultepec and Buena Vista； and was an authority where gunpowder was concerned。
〃That's just what he did。 Came near takin' the top of my head off！ Hadn't been so dark he would have done it。〃
〃Good God！ you don't tell me so！〃 exclaimed the General； mopping his lips with his perfumed handkerchief。 〃Were you armed； Gunning？〃
〃No； sir； I was entirely at his mercy and absolutely defenceless。 Well； I grabbed the reins to quiet the mare and then I hollered out'What the devil do you mean； sir； by tryin' to blow the top of my head off？' I could see now that he had raised himself up on his elbow and was lookin' at me in a way I did not like。
〃'What do you mean by disturbin' my rest； sir；' he called back。
〃'Well； but my dear sir； you were lyin' in the middle of the road and might have been run over。'
〃'It's none of your business where I lie；' he hollered back。 'I go to sleep where I damn please； sir。 I consider it a very great liberty。'
〃'I； beg your pardon； sir；' I said。 'I did not intend any trespass' I was walkin' toward him now。 I did not want him to shoot again。
〃'That's sufficient； sir；' he said。 'No gentleman can do more。 There's my hand； sir。 Allow me； sir； to offer you a drink。 If you will roll me over； you will find my flask in my coat…tail pocket。'
〃Well； I rolled him over； took a drink； and then I brought the mare alongside； helped him in and drove him home to my house。 He was a most delightful gentleman。 Didn't leave my place until four o'clock in the mornin'。 He lives about fifteen miles below me。 He told me his name was Toffington。 Do you happen to know him； Talbot？〃 said Gunning； turning to Billy。
〃Toffington； Toffington；〃 said Billy； dropping his eye…glasses with a movement of his eyebrows。 He had listened to the story without the slightest comment。 〃No； Tom； unless he is one of those upper county men。 There was a fellow I met in London last year〃 （Billy pronounced it 〃larst yarh；〃 to Oliver's infinite amusement） 〃with some such name as that。 He and I went over to Kew Gardens with the Duke of。〃
Gunning instantly turned around with an impatient gesturenobody ever listened to one of Billy's London stories； they being the never…ending jokes around Kennedy Squarefaced the General again； much to Oliver's regret； who would have loved above all things to hear Billy descant on his English experiences。
〃Do you； General； know anybody named Toffington？〃 asked Tom。
〃No； Gunningbut here comes Clayton； he knows everybody in the State that is worth knowing。 What you have told me is most extraordinarymost extraordinary； Gunning。 It only goes to show how necessary it is for every man to be prepared for emergencies of this kind。 You should never go unarmed； sir。 You had a very narrow escapea very narrow escape； Gunning。 Here； Claytoncome over here。〃
Oliver pulled his face into long lines。 The picture of Gunning taking a drink with a man who a moment before had tried to blow the top of his head off； and the serious way in which the coterie about the table regarded the incident； so excited the boy's risibles that he would have laughed outright had not his eye rested on the Colonel walking toward him。
The Colonel； evidently； did not hear McTavish's call。 His mind w