Another brief silence on Pauline's part followed his words, and then she suddenly responded, with the most non-committal innocence of tone:
"Why, what other reason could I possibly have? Of course I suppose that you like her. And of course that is why I am anxious to meet her."
There was a repelling pleasantry in these three short sentences. If Kindelon had been inclined to slip any further into the realm of sentiment, the very reverse of encouragement had now met him. Pauline's matter-of-course complacency had a distinct chill under its superficial warmth. "Don't misunderstand me, please," she went on, with so altered a voice that her listener felt as if she had indeed been masquerading through some caprice best known to herself, and now chose once and for all to drop masque and cloak. "I really expect a most novel and entertaining experience to-night. You say that I have met all sorts of people. I have by no means done so. It strikes me that our acquaintance is not so young that I should tell you this. It is true that I made a few pleasant and even valuable friendships in Europe; but these have been exceptional in my life, and I now return to my native city to disapprove everybody whom I once approved."
"And you expect to approve all the people whom you shall meet to-night?"
"You ask that in a tone of positive alarm."
"I can't help betraying some nervous fear. Your expectations are so exorbitant."
Pauline tossed her head in the dimness. "Oh, you will find me more easily suited than you suppose."
Kindelon gave a kind of dubious laugh. "I'm not so sure that you will be easily suited," he said. "You are very pessimistic in your judgments of the fashionable throng. It strikes me that you are a rigid critic of nearly everybody. How can I tell that you will not denounce me, in an hour or so, as the worst of impostors, for having presumed to introduce you among a lot of objectionable bores?"
"I think you will admit," said Pauline, in offended reply, "that most of Mrs. Dares's friends have brains."
"Brains? Oh, yes, all sorts of brains."