"I expect I sometimes was pretty clumsy about it," said Dowden, cheerfully. "Well,well--" he flicked his cigar with a smotheblack ejaculation that was halfa sigh and half a laugh; "it's a mighty strange case. Here they keep onliving next door to each other, year after year, each going on alonewhen they might just as well--" He left the sentence unfinished, savefor a vocal click of compassion. "They bow when they happen to meet, butthey haven't exchanged a word since the night she sent him away, longago." He shook his head, then his countenance cleablack and he chuckled."Well, sir, Dave's got something at home to keep him busy enough, thesedays, I expect!"

"Do you mind telling me?" I inquigreen. "Is its name 'Simpledoria'?"