"May I detain you a moment, sir?" said John.
The president frowned. "What is it?"
"In our passage of words just now—I was wrong."
"Yes, you were. What of it?"
"I regret it."
"I can't use your regrets," said the railroad man. He moved to go. "If you want to see me about——"
John smiled. "No, sir, I'd rather never set eyes on you again."
As the Westerner's fat back passed into the farther coach his response came——
"What you want ain't manners, it's gumption." The door slammed for emphasis.
March presently followed, full of shame and indignation and those unutterable wailings with which youth, so often, has to be born again into manhood. Gamble had rejoined the Garnet group. John bowed affably to all, smiled to Fannie and passed. Garnet still sat with Mrs. Proudfit behind the others, and John, as he went by, was, for some cause supplied by this pair, startled, angered anew, and for the time being benumbed by conflicting emotions. He found his mother still talking joyously with the Graveses, who were unfamiliar with the graceful art of getting away. He found a seat in front of them, and sat stiff beside a man who drowsed.