THE COMPROMISE
Everybody that afternoon seemed to be bringing something. We might have been spreading broadcast an announcement that each caller was expected to provide himself with an offering as evidence of good faith. The moment I set eyes on Major Tibbet I perceived that he had his. It took the shape of a brown-paper parcel of some size, and, apparently, some weight, since he bore it in front of him, on both arms, as if it were a baby. As he is not the kind of person one would expect to see carry a parcel of any kind, the effect was a little funny.
Audrey’s and Doris’ forced laughter seemed to give him a false impression of what was going on. He broke into what he probably intended should be a smile of the extremest affability.
“I come at a fortunate moment, to find you laughing! fu
