Why had she called upon the Secretary? First, to thank him for having
engaged the rooms; second, to invite him to take her out to a country
club and teach her the game of golf. She had heard people at the hotel
talking about golf. The game had been strongly commended to her by a
congressman's daughter, with whom she had ascended to the top of the
Washington Monument.
When the Secretary, having recovered his breath, asked if she felt
strong enough to attempt such a vigorous game, she was moved to silvery
laughter. She told what she had accomplished during three short days in
Washington. She had attended two matinees with Popova, had gone motoring
into the Virginia hills, had inspected all the public buildings, and
studied every shop-window in Pennsylvania Avenue. The Secretary knew
that all this outdoor freedom was not usually accorded a young woman of
his native domain, and yet he felt that he had no authority to restrain
her or correct her. She was a princess, and he was relatively a
subordinate, and, when she requested him to take her to the country
club, he gave an embarrassed consent.
"You have been in America a long time?" she asked.
"About three years."
"You have met many people--that is, the important people?"
"All of them are important over here.
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