Katie sat beside her, an arm thrown lightly about Ann's shoulders--lightly but guardingly.
Neither of them talked much.

Mrs.Prescott and Mrs.Leonard were "visiting"; the men talking of some affairs of Mr.Osborne's.

He was commending the army for minding its own business--not "butting in" and trying to ruin business the way some other departments of the Government did.

The army seemed in high favor with Mr.Osborne.
Suddenly Mrs.Leonard turned to Katie.

She was a large woman, poised by the shallow serenity of self-approval.
"I do feel so sorry for Miss Osborne," she said.