Perhaps this was not the formal acceptance
of the situation by the terrible old woman as he had, on the spur,
fancied. Perhaps she had sent for him to read him the riot act.
Then he remembered that he was himself in doubt as to whether he
wished to marry the young woman. All his doubts came flooding
back, and his terrors--for, in some of its aspects, the idea of
being married to this delicate flower of conventionality and
gentle breeding was literally a terror to him. If he went he would
be still further committing himself; all Washington would soon
know of the journey in the carriage of Madam Bowker, the most
imposing car of state that appeared in the streets of the Capital,
a vast, lofty affair, drawn by magnificent horses, the coachman
and footman in costly, quiet livery, high ensconced.
"No, thanks," said Josh, in his most bustlingly-bounderish manner.
"Tell the old lady I'm up to my neck in work."
Mr. Whitesides was taken aback, but he was far too polished a
gentleman to show it. "Perhaps later?" he suggested.
"I've promised Margaret to go out there later. If I get through
here in time I'll look in on Mrs. Bowker on the way. But tell her
not to wait at home for me.
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