"No; Miss Birdseye doesn't give parties. She's an ascetic."
"Oh, well, we have had our dinner," Ransom rejoined, laughing.
His hostess sat silent a moment, with her eyes on the ground; she looked at such times as if she were hesitating greatly between several things she might say, all so important that it was difficult to choose.
"I think it might interest you," she remarked presently. "You will hear some discussion, if you are fond of that. Perhaps you wouldn't agree," she added, resting her strange eyes on him.
"Perhaps I shouldn't—I don't agree with everything," he said, smiling and stroking his leg.
"Don't you care for human progress?" Miss Chancellor went on.
"I don't know—I never saw any. Are you going to show me some?"
"I can show you an earnest effort towards it. That's the most one can be sure of. But I am not sure you are worthy."
"Is it something very Bostonian? I should like to see that," said Basil Ransom.
"There are movements in other cities. Mrs. Farrinder goes everywhere; she may speak to-night."