"It's not--it's not--" "No, it's not," said Mary.

"I know that!" "How did they happen to ask you to dinner ?" Mr.Vertrees inquired, uneasily.

"'Stextrawdn'ry thing!" "Climbers' hospitality," Mary defined it.

"We were so very cordial and easy! I think Mrs.Sheridan herself might have done it just as any kind old woman on a farm might ask a neighbor, but it was Miss Sheridan who did it.

She played around it awhile; you could see she wanted to--she's in a dreadful hurry to get into things--and I fancied she had an idea it might impress that Lamhorn boy to find us there to-night.