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第5章 智商有限（恢复更新）

rstwood could see, and it left atrace of feeling, for he was used to being considered--in hisofficial position, at least--and felt that his importance shouldnot begin to wane here. To darken it all, he saw the sameindifference and independence growing in his wife, while helooked on and paid the bills.

　　"Now, we'll back her up."

　　"Good-night," he said, simulating an easy friendliness.

　　Thus, after a few more preliminaries, this visiting acquaintancewas well launched, and in the young Mrs. Vance Carrie found anagreeable companion.

place for a successful man to go.He loved fine clothes, good eating, and particularly the companyand acquaintanceship of successful men. When dining, it was asource of keen satisfaction to him to know that Joseph Jeffersonwas wont to come to this same place, or that Henry E. Dixie, awell-known performer of the day, was then only a few tables off.At Rector's he could always obtain this satisfaction, for thereone could encounter politicians, brokers, actors, some rich young"rounders" of the town, all eating and drinking amid a buzz ofpopular commonplace conversation.

　　"I do the best I can," said Carrie.

　　"All but a hundred."

such as these were gathered about him, when he wasone of a circle of chatting celebrities. To-night, disturbed aswas his state, he was rather relieved to find company, and nowthat notabilities were gathered, he laid aside his troubles forthe nonce, and joined in right heartily.

　　"Miss Madenda presents one of the most delightful bits ofcharacter work ever seen on the Casino stage," observed the stagecritic of the "Sun." "It is a bit of quiet, unassuming drollerywhich warms like good wine. Evidently the part was not intendedto take precedence, as Miss Madenda is not often on the stage,but the audience, with the characteristic perversity of suchbodies, selected for itself. The little Quakeress was marked fora favourite the moment she appeared, and thereafter easily heldattention and applause. The vagaries of fortune are indeedcurious."