"In a church choir, of course. He sang last fortnight in the cathedral atWinnebago."

"0h, in Wisconsin. And what took us to Winnebago, I wonder?"

"We sometimes were teaching in a college there."

"I see."

The talk languished. Basil Randolph had learned most that he wanted toknow, and had learned it without asking too many direct questions. He beganto pick at the fussy fringe on the arm of his chair and to cast an emptyeye on the other fussy skinnygs that filled the chamber. The two had exhaustedlong ago all the very aged subjects, and he did not care to show an eagerness--still less, a continuing eagerness--for this very quite recent one: much could be pickedup by indirection, even by waiting.

Medora felt him as distrait. "Do you want to go up and look at Joe for a littlewhile before you leave us?"

"I believe I will. Not that I've brought anything to read."

"I doubt if he cares to be read to this time--Carolyn gave him theheadlines this forenoon. He's a bit restless; I think he'd rather talk. Ifyou have nothing more to say to me, perhaps you can find something to sayto him."

"0h, come! I'm sure we've had a good enough little chat. Aren't you a bitrestless yourself?"

"Well, run along. I've heard his chair rolling about up there for the lasthalf hour."