\"Ah，then，it’sformetoaskYOUwhat。Idon’tmyself，yousee，perceiveit。\"
Hemadeforalittlenoanswer，andwewerebothindeedbythistimetakenupwiththewithdrawalofthetwoothermembersofourgroup。Theymovedawaytogetheracrosstheshiningfloor，pausing，lookingupatthepaintedvault，sayingtheinevitablethings——bringingofftheirretreat，inshort，inthebestorder。Itstruckmesomehowasaretreat，andyetIinsistedtomyself，oncemore，onitsbeingperfectlynatural。Atthehighdoor，whichstoodopen，theystoppedamomentandlookedbackatus——lookedfrankly，sociably，asifinconsciousnessofoursympatheticattention。
Mrs。Serverwaved，asintemporaryfarewell，afreeexplanatoryhandatme；sheseemedtoexplainthatshewasnowtryingsomebodyelse。ObertmoreoveraddedHISexplanation。\"That’sthewayshecollarsus。\"
\"Oh，Longdoesn’tmind，\"Isaid。\"Butwhat’sthewayshestrikesyouasdifferent？\"
\"Fromwhatshewaswhenshesattome？Well，apartofitisthatshecan’tkeepstill。Shewasasstillthenasifshehadbeenpaidforit。