When he entered the Grant Home a group of them was seated about the fireplace in the main hall. A neat, ruddy, septuagenarian circle. They greeted him casually, with delicacy of feeling, as if he were merely approaching them at their bench in the Park.

“Say, Minick, look here. Mowry here says China ought to have been included in the four-power treaty. He says — — ”

Old man Minick cleared his throat. “You take China, now,” he said, “with her vast and practically, you might say, virgin country, why — — ”

An apple-cheeked maid in a black dress and a white apron stopped before him. He paused.

“Housekeeper says for me to tell you your room’s all ready, if you’d