II

A SUCCESSFUL CASE

  “The pleasantest angling is to see the fish
  ... greedily devour the treacherous bait.”
  —­Much Ado about Nothing.

The invitations to Mrs. Upton’s little dinner were speedily despatched by the strategic maker of matches, and, to her great delight, were one and all accepted with commendable promptness, as dinner invitations are apt to be.  The night came, and with it came also the unsuspecting young doctor and the equally unsuspicious Miss Meeker.  Everything was charming.  The Jacksons were pleased with the Peltons, and the Peltons were pleased with the Jacksons, and, best of all, Walter was pleased with Miss Meeker, while she was not wholly oblivious to his existence.  She even quoted something he happened to say at the table, after the ladies had retired, leaving the men to their cigars, and had added that “that was the way she liked to hear a man talk”—­all of which was very encouraging to the well-disposed spider who was weaving the web for these two particular flies.  As for Bliss—­Walter Bliss, M.D.—­he was very much impressed; so much so, indeed, that as the men left their cigars to return to the ladies he managed to whisper into Upton’s ear,

“Rather bright girl that, Henry.”

“Very,” said Upton.  “Sensible, too.  One of those bachelor girls who’ve got too much sense to think much about men.  Pity, rather, in a way, too.  She’d make a good wife, but, Lord save us! it would require an Alexander or a Napoleon to make love to her.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said Bliss, confidently.  “If the right man came along—­”

“Of course; but there aren’t many right men,” said Upton.  “I’ve no doubt there’s somebody equal to the occasion somewhere, but with the population of the world at the present figures there’s a billion chances to one she’ll never meet him.  What do you think of the financial situation, Walter?  Pretty bad, eh?”

Thus did the astute Mr. Upton play the cards dealt out to him by his fairer half in this little game of hearts of her devising, and it is a certain fact that he played them well, for the interjection of a more or less political phase into their discussion rather whetted than otherwise the desire of Dr. Bliss to talk about Miss Meeker.

“Oh, hang the financial situation!  Where does she live, Henry?” was Bliss’s answer, from which Upton deduced that all was going well.

That his deductions were correct was speedily shown, for it was not many days before Mrs. Upton, with a radiant face, handed Upton a note from Walter asking her if she would not act as chaperon for a little sail on the Sound upon his sloop.  He thought a small party of four, consisting of herself and Henry, Miss Meeker and himself, could have a jolly afternoon and evening of it, dining on board in true picnic fashion, and returning to earth in the moonlight.