“It is my pleasure then,” he said gallantly, bowing, and at once instituting himself as master of ceremonies, “to introduce to you, Miss Natalie’s fiance, Captain West—­Mrs. Lonsdale, Professor Scott, Miss Margaret Willis, Colonel LeFranc, Mrs. Wilber Somers.  Possibly there may be no necessity of my presenting the next gentleman—­Mr. Percival Coolidge.”

“Oh, but there is,” the last mentioned interposed, a tall rather portly man, with grey hair and moustache, “I must confess this is as much a surprise to me as to any one present.  However,” he grasped West’s hand with apparent cordiality, “I hasten to add my congratulations, and to wish Natalie all the happiness possible.”

The group slowly broke up, the members still discussing the undoubted surprise of this announcement, Miss Coolidge talking animatedly with Mrs. Lonsdale, and seemingly having forgotten West’s presence in the room.  He was utterly unable to even catch her eye, and finally found himself confronting Colonel LeFranc and Percival Coolidge, the latter instantly engaging him in conversation, evidently seeking more definite information.

“This engagement with my niece,” he said uneasily, “must have been rather sudden?  Even your name is quite unfamiliar to me.”

“It was, indeed,” admitted West, who had now completely recovered his nerve, and even begun to enjoy the situation.  “Since my return from abroad.”

“You were with the army in France?”

“In an Engineer Regiment.  I have been in America only two weeks.”

“Ah, indeed.  And this is your home?”

Realizing that the elder Coolidge was diligently searching for information, West decided the best method would be a full confession.

“Oh, no,” he said candidly, “I am from the South—­Atlanta, Georgia.  My father is a District Judge, Robert Peel West, quite widely known, and my mother belonged to the Bullock family.  I am a graduate of the University of Virginia, and also of the Massachusetts Polytechnic.  Before the war I was connected for a short time, with a well-known firm of Engineers in this city, but, since my return, I have not resumed professional work.  Having been wounded in France, I have felt entitled to a little rest after my return.”

“Quite interesting, I am sure,” Coolidge turned to the Colonel.  “You are Southern also, I believe?”

“Very much so,” was the quick response.  “And I chance to know the name of Judge West rather well.  I congratulate your niece on her choice of a life companion.  There is no better blood in Georgia.  I would be very pleased to hear more of your father, Captain West.  I have not met him for several years.”