"I have," he retorted grimly, "and I assure you you haven't lost anything. You'll see it enough when it's set up, and you'll go about perjuring your soul by denying that I was ever on the committee."
"Hush," she said, "do be quiet; people will think you're cross because you were overruled."
On the other side of the statue the sculptor had been receiving congratulations all the afternoon, and now Mr. Calvin and Mrs. Frostwinch chanced to approach him at the same time to take their leave.
"I am so glad to have seen the statue," was the latter's form of adieu, "it is distinctly inspiring. Thank you so much."
He bowed awkwardly enough, stammering some unintelligible reply, and the lady moved away with Mr. Calvin, who observed as the pair emerged into the open air:
"It is such a relief to me that this statue has turned out so well. There has really been a good deal of feeling and wire-pulling, and some New York friends of mine will never forgive me that the commission was not given to one of their men. I really feel as if the thing had been made almost a personal matter."
"It must be a great satisfaction to you," his companion returned, "that he has succeeded."
"It is," was Calvin's reply. "I meant to see Mr. Rangley and ask him to say a good word in the Observer, but everybody is so much pleased that I think he may be trusted to be."
"Oh, he must be," she answered.
And as she spoke Tom Bently passed by, quietly smiling to himself.