The day had been sunshiny, warm even, but since nine o’clock the weather had changed for the worse, and by now a heavy rain was falling. Mrs. Cressler begged the two sisters and Mrs. Wessels to stay at her house over night, but Laura refused. Jadwin was suggesting to Cressler the appropriateness of having the coupe brought around to take the sisters home, when Corthell came up to Laura.

“I sent for a couple of hansoms long since,” he said. “They are waiting outside now.” And that seemed to settle the question.

For all Jadwin’s perseverance, the artist seemed⁠—for this time at least⁠—to have the better of the situation.

As the goodbyes were being said at the front door Page remarked to Landry: