"Hello!" she called softly, and he crossed the grass to the steps.
"Say, what a night! And what a place!" He slapped his hat beside him, and sat down at Catherine's feet, backed against the pillar. "It's been fierce in town to-day, I'll bet. You're lucky to be able to stay here." He puffed, and the smoke moved in a cloud about the indistinct outline of his face. "Wish I could!"
"When are you going?"
"To-morrow night." Charles sounded aggrieved. "I wrote you I had just the week-end."
"I hoped you might manage a little longer——"
"Can't manage that conference on Monday without being there."
"What conference is that?" Catherine swung one knee over the other; as she watched the face there in the dark, she could feel its expression, although the features were so vague.
"The committee on psychological work in the schools. You remember? Planning it all through the East. It's a big thing."
"Oh, that new committee." Catherine was apathetic.