Julia was abstracted, following them with her eyes.

With almost supernatural keenness she seemed to catch their voices from the distance.
"Yes, Josephine, WOULDN'T that be AWFULLY ROMANTIC!"-- she suddenly called shrilly.
The pair in the distance started.
"What--!" they heard Josephine's sharp exclamation.
"What's that ?--What would be romantic ?" said Jim as he lurched up and caught hold of Cyril Scott's arm.
"Josephine wants to make a great illumination of the grounds of the estate," said Julia, magniloquent.
"No--no--I didn't say it," remonstrated Josephine.
"What Josephine said," explained Robert, "was simply that it would be pretty to put candles on one of the growing trees, instead of having a Christmas-tree indoors." "Oh, Josephine, how sweet of you!" cried Julia.
Cyril Scott giggled.
"Good egg! Champion idea, Josey, my lass.

Eh?
What--!" cried Jim.

"Why not carry it out--eh?
Why not?
Most attractive." He leaned forward over Josephine, and grinned.
"Oh, no!" expostulated Josephine.

"It all sounds so silly now.No.