"This is Dr. Sanborn, my husband-who-is-to-be."
"If nothing happens." He smiled as he shook hands.
"If she doesn't conclude to take me instead," remarked Mason.
Rose had perception enough at command to feel the powerful personalities grouped about her. She sat near Dr. Sanborn, with whom she was at ease at once, he was so awkward and so kindly. He took off his glasses and polished them carefully as if anxious to see her better.
"Isabel tells me you gave her a little lecture the other day. I'm glad of it. We city folks need it once in a while. We get to thinking that country folks are necessarily fools and stupids by reason of our farce-comedies and our so-called comic weeklies."
"We're not so bad as that," said Rose.
"Of course not; nobody could be so bad as that."
Isabel sat down near Mason. "I tell you, Warren, that girl has a future before her."
"No doubt. It couldn't well be behind her."
"Don't be flippant! See that head! But it ain't that—she has power. I feel it, she made me feel it. I want you to see some of her writing and see what can be done for her."