“Well, now, we’ll take that waiter episode. The kind of people she’d like to know treat servants impersonally. Servants are just conveniences to them, like dumb waiters. So of course,—even if it was only a Chinaman—she didn’t like your noticing him and she came out of her shell for just a moment to say so. Do you see now?”
Bertram’s dark complexion reddened with the rush of his shame.
“Oh, that’s the idea is it? I thought from something she said that she was afraid I’d hurt his feelings. She wants me to put more front on before ’em, does she?”
“Just about that. She doesn’t like to see you put yourself on a level with them.”
“All right, that was straight over the plate and I got it.”
Again Kate reached over to pat his hand.
“Now don’t take it seriously; I know—she herself must know—how splendid and able 188 and promising you are—how much of a man!”
Bert spoke in some irritation.
“I always knew I wasn’t a gentleman,” he said, “but this is the first time it was ever shot straight at me that way.”
“Bert Chester, as long as I’m a friend of yours don’t you ever dare say to me that you’re not a gentleman. You’re one of the biggest and strongest gentlemen I ever knew. Anyone need only see you for five minutes to know you’re that. But some people have certain things which they attribute to a gentleman—notions, as I’ve said. And Eleanor from her European experiences has some of these notions. Don’t you see?”