Eaton found Nan waiting for him at the fourth green.
“I was praying for a mascot, and here you are,” he remarked affably. “I can’t fail to turn in a good card. Glad to see you’ve taken up walking; there’s nothing like it—particularly on a humid afternoon.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I hope to catch the four-thirty for town. What are my chances?”
“Excellent, if you don’t waste more than ten minutes on me. You’ve never given me more than five up to date. How is Mr. Farley?”
“He’s been very comfortable for a week; really quite like himself. You’d better come and see him.”
“I meant to drop in often all winter, but was afraid of boring him.”
“You’re one of the few that couldn’t do that. He likes to talk to you. You don’t bother him with questions about his health—a sure way of pleasing him.”
“A rare man, Farley. Wiser than serpents, and stimulating. I’ve learned a good deal from him.”
They reached his ball, that had accommodatingly effected a good lie, and after viewing it with approval he glanced at Nan and remarked:—
“You’d better urge me to come to see you, too. It’s just occurred to me that it might be well for us to know each other better. I may flatter myself; but—”