When the meal at last drew to a close, Mrs. Cruger said: "I suppose you don't want to sit here alone, Jack."
"God forbid!" he answered.
"Then we'll have coffee in the lounge," said Mrs. Cruger. "It's cooler there."
The "lounge" was an immense room which made a great bow at the end of the west wing. The round part had a glass roof which was raised, and there was a whole semi-circle of open windows, so that we were almost outdoors. The open-air effect was heightened by quantities of growing plants and ferns. The furniture was of painted rattan with gay covers. We sank into insidiously comfortable chairs placed roughly in a circle. Presently a softly stepping footman placed coffee on stands convenient to the hand, and his mate followed him trundling a sort of wheeled tray bearing a dozen v
