Mrs Dale had never questioned her daughter on the matter; she was not a woman prone to put such questions.

But during the month or two last past, she had seen with regret that Bell looked almost coldly on the man whom her mother favoured.
In thinking of all this the long evening passed away, and at eleven o'clock she heard the coming steps across the garden.

The young men had, of course, accompanied the girls home; and as she stepped out from the still open window of her own drawing-room, she saw them all on the centre of the lawn before her.
"There's mamma," said Lily.

"Mamma, Mr Crosbie wants to play croquet by moonlight." "I don't think there is light enough for that," said Mrs Dale.
"There is light enough for him," said Lily, "for he plays quite independently of the hoops; don't you, Mr Crosbie ?" "There's very pretty croquet light, I should say," said Mr Crosbie, looking up at the bright moon; "and then it is so stupid going to bed." "Yes, it is stupid going to bed," said Lily; "but people in the country are stupid, you know.

Billiards, that you can play all night by gas, is much better, isn't it ?" "Your arrows fall terribly astray there, Miss Dale, for I never touch a cue; you should talk to your cousin about billiards." "Is Bernard a great billiard player ?" asked Bell.
"Well, I do play now and again; about as well as Crosbie does croquet.