Her manner was quiet and reserved and she was plainly dressed in white, but when she turned and dismissed her companion her pose was graceful.

Then she handed Mrs.Keith some letters and papers.
"I have been to the post-office, and Captain Sedgwick made them search for our mail," she said.

"It came some time ago, but there was a mistake through its not being addressed to the hotel." Mrs.Keith took the letters and gave Mrs.Ashborne an English newspaper.
"The bobcat has torn a hole in the basket," the girl went on, "and I'm afraid it's trying to get at the mink." "Tell some of the hotel people to take it out at once and see that the basket is sent to be mended." The girl withdrew and Mrs.Ashborne looked up.
"Did I hear aright ?" she asked in surprise.

"She said a bobcat ?" Mrs.Keith laughed.
"I am making a collection of the smaller American animals.

A bobcat is something like a big English ferret.