Soamesshookhishead。Ifthewholethingwerenotdisposedofwithinthenextfewmonthsthefellowwouldturnupagainlikeabadpenny。Itsavedathousandayearatleasttogetridofhim，besidesalltheworrytoWinifredandhisfather。’ImuststiffenDreamer’sback，’hethought；’wemustpushiton。’
Winifred，whohadadoptedakindofhalf-mourningwhichbecameherfairhairandtallfigureverywell，arrivedinJames’barouchedrawnbyJames’pair。SoameshadnotseenitintheCitysincehisfatherretiredfrombusinessfiveyearsago，anditsincongruitygavehimashock。’Timesarechanging，’hethought；’onedoesn’tknowwhat’llgonext！’Tophatsevenwerescarcer。HeenquiredafterVal。Val，saidWinifred，wrotethathewasgoingtoplaypolonextterm。Shethoughthewasinaverygoodset。Sheaddedwithfashionablydisguisedanxiety：”Willtherebemuchpublicityaboutmyaffair，Soames?Mustitbeinthepapers?It’ssobadforhim，andthegirls。”
Withhisowncalamityallrawwithinhim，Soamesanswered：”Thepapersareapushinglot；it’sverydifficulttokeepthingsout。Theypretendtobeguardingthepublic’smorals，andtheycorruptthemwiththeirbeastlyreports。Butwehaven’tgottothatyet。We’reonlyseeingDreamerto-dayontherestitutionquestion。Ofcourseheunderstandsthatit’stoleadtoadivorce；
butyoumustseemgenuinelyanxioustogetDartieback——youmightpracticethatattitudeto-day。”
Winifredsighed。”Oh！WhataclownMonty’sbeen！”shesaid。