"I'll see to that, too, Ricky."
Chrysos Lacy leaned forward and began to talk to him, and his training reacted mechanically, for he seemed at once to become his gay and engaging self.
He did not return to the Vernons' box nor did he see Strelsa again before she went South.
The next night a note was delivered to him, written from the Wycherlys' car, "Wind-Flower."
"My dear Mr. Quarren:
"Why did you not come back to say good-bye? You spoke of doing so. I'm afraid Chrysos Lacy is responsible.
"The dance at the Van Dynes was very jolly. I am exceedingly sorry you were not there. Thank you for the flowers and bon-bons that were delivered to me in my state-room. My violets are not yet entirely faded, so they have not yet joined your gardenia in the limbo of useless things.
"Mr. Westguard came to the train. He is nice.
"Mr. O'Hara and Chrysos and Jack Lacy were there, so in spite of your conspicuous absence the Legation maintained its gay reputation and covered itself with immortal blarney.
"This letter was started as a note to thank you for your gifts, but it is becoming a serial as Molly and Jim and I sit here watching the North Carolina landscape fly past our windows like streaks of brown lightened only by the occasional delicious and sunny green of some long-leafed pine.
"There's nothing to see from horizon to horizon except the monotonous repetition of mules and niggers and evil-looking cypress swamps and a few razor-backs and a buzzard flying very high in the blue.
"Thank you again for my flowers.... I wonder if you understand that my instinct is to be friends with you?
"It was from the very beginning.
"And please don't be absurd enough to think that I am going to forget you—or our jolly escapade at the Wycherly ball. You behaved very handsomely once. I know I can count on your kindness to me.
"Good-bye, and many many thanks—as Jack Lacy says—'f'r the manny booggy-rides, an' th' goom-candy, an' the boonches av malagy grrapes'!
"Sincerely your friend,
"Strelsa Leeds."
That same day Sir Charles Mallison arrived in New York and went directly to Mrs. Sprowl's house. Their interview was rather brief but loudly cordial on the old lady's part:
"How's my sister and Foxy?" she asked—meaning Sir Renard and Lady Spinney.
Sir Charles regretted he had not seen them.
"And you?"