And _were_ his finger nails always so dirty?
Why, Mother would think-- Mother did not stay in the room all the time; but she was in more or less often to watch the game; and at half-past nine she brought in some little cakes and lemonade as a surprise.

I thought it was lovely; but I could have shaken Paul when he pretended to be afraid of it, and asked Mother if there was a stick in it.
The idea--Mother! A stick! I just knew Mother wouldn't like that.

But if she didn't, she never showed a thing in her face.

She just smiled, and said no, there wasn't any stick in it; and passed the cakes.
When he had gone I remember I didn't like to meet Mother's eyes, and I didn't ask her how she liked Paul Mayhew.

I kept right on talking fast about something else.