When summer came and Society flitted to Newport, that paradise in which he only half believed, he was more lonely and glum than the loneliest and glummest and most blase clubman, who clung to his window because he hated Newport and could not afford London.  Quite accidentally, when his infatuation was about three years old, he came into a singular compensation.  In the summer, during his ten days’ vacation, when he was tramping through the woods, he fell in with a party of Western people, who manifested much interest in New York.  To Andrew there was only one New York, and with that his soul was identified.  Insensibly, he began to talk of New York Society as if it were part of his daily experience.  His careful, if restricted, study of its habits had made him sufficiently familiar with it to enable him to deceive the wholly ignorant.  He described the people, their brilliant “functions,” the individualities of certain of its members.  He talked freely of Ward McAllister, and imitated that gentleman’s peculiarities of thought and speech, so familiar to the newspaper reader.  For the time he deceived himself as well as his hearers; and so fascinating did he find this delusion, that he remained with the inquisitive and guileless party until the end of his vacation.  After that he made it a point each year to attach himself to some party of tourists, and to tell them of New York Society, plus Andrew Webb.  He was not a liar in the ordinary sense of the word.  In his home and in the bank where he played his daily game of give-and-take, his reputation for veracity was enviable.  Every mortal not an idiot has his day-dreams.  Webb merely dreamed his aloud to an audience.  And these summers were the oases of his life.

He had one other pleasure equally keen.  On the first day of each month he dined at Delmonico’s.  In the beginning it meant the forfeit of his usual stand-up luncheon, but he had decided that the cause was worthy of the sacrifice.  One evening, however, he lingered on upper Fifth Avenue longer than usual, and entered late.  The restaurant was crowded.  He stood at the door, hesitating, knowing that he would not be permitted to seat himself at a table already occupied by even one person.  Suddenly a small common-looking little man came forward and touched his arm.

“Won’t you share my table?” he said, effusively.  “My name’s Slocum, and I’ve seen you here often.  You mustn’t go away.  Come in.”

Andrew gratefully accepted, and followed Mr. Slocum over to the little table on the other side of the room.

“I say,” said Slocum, after Webb had ordered his dinner, “I’ve hit on a plan.  It’s been in my head for some time.  How often do you come here?”

“Once a month.”

“That’s my game exactly.  I’m a clerk on a small salary; but I must have one good dinner a month, if I don’t have my hair cut.  Now, suppose we dine together.  One portion’s enough for two, and the same dinner’ll only cost each of us half what it does now.  See?”