It was in the dusk of that afternoon when Cairns met Bedient, whose happiness was eminent and shining as usual.  Cairns gave him a chance to mention the episode which had despoiled his own day, but Bedient seemed to have forgotten it remotely.  It was because such wonderful things had been accomplished in his own life that Cairns was troubled.  In no other man would he have objected to this sort of affair, though he might have criticised the trysting-place as a matter of taste.  He had to bring up the subject.

Bedient’s face clouded.  “How did you hear?”

Cairns told, but spared details.

“I hoped it wouldn’t get out on account of Mrs. Wordling,” Bedient said.  “I should have had the instinct to spare her from any such comments.  I didn’t know the laws of the park.  It was a perfect night.  We talked by the fountain.  She was the first to suggest that we recross the street—­and there we were—­locked in.”

Cairns asked several questions.  Once he started impatiently to say that Mrs. Wordling had nothing to lose, but he caught himself in time.  He saw that Bedient had been handled a bit, and had only a vague idea that he was embroiled in a scandal, the sordidness of which was apt to reach every ear but the principals’.  At all events, the old Bedient was restored; in fact, if it were possible, he was brightened at one certain angle.  Cairns had been unable to forbear this question: 

“But, Andrew, who suggested going across to the park?”

“I can’t just say,” Bedient answered thoughtfully.  “You see we smelled mignonette, and followed a common impulse.  You should have seen the night to understand....  I say, David, can I do anything to straighten this out for Mrs. Wordling?”

“Only ignore it,” Cairns said hastily.  “I’ll nip it—­wherever it comes up.  And the next time a woman asks——­”

“But I didn’t say——­”

“The next time you smell mignonette, think of it as a soporific.  Just yawn and say you’ve been working like a fire-horse on the Fourth....  You see, it isn’t what happens that gets out to the others, including those we care about, but what is imagined by minds which are not decently policed.”

“Crowds are cruel,” Bedient mused.

Cairns had found it hard not to be spiteful toward one whom he considered had abused his friend’s fineness....  They dined at the Club.  The talk turned to a much fairer thing.  Bedient saw (with deep and full delight) that Cairns had sighted his island of that Delectable Archipelago, and was making for it full-sailed.  An enchanting idea came to Bedient (the fruit of an hour’s happy talk), as to the best way for Cairns to make a landing in still waters....

Bedient was detailing the plan with some spirit, when Cairns’ hand fell swiftly upon his arm....  At a near table just behind, Mrs. Wordling was sitting with a gentleman.  Neither had noticed her come in.  Mrs. Wordling turned to greet them.  She was looking her best, which was sensational.