more than the one virtue of economy. He was practising several others, but all with a view to his own advantage. One of them was that his wife should come on and visit him during the remainder of the session. She had not been in Washington for five years—not since that first unlucky venture in the Eleventh Street boarding-house.
He mentioned to Thorndyke his intention to send for his wife, and had the grace to say that it was because he was lonely without her—and in saying so he was conscious of uttering a colossal lie. But being inexpert as a liar he did badly, and felt ashamed of doing badly even in lying.
Thorndyke, on whom Annette Crane's simple and natural charm had made a strong impression, was pleased at the thought that Crane would pay her the compliment of having her with him and pleased at the thought of seeing her again.
"I shall be going West next week," he said, "and if Mrs. Crane is ready to come to Washington I shall be proud to escort her back."
"Thank you," answered Crane, "it would be a kindness to me as well as to Mrs. Crane. She is not an experienced traveller."
