The servants disappeared, but silence still reigned unbroken.
Claudia arose, and went round to her brother's chair.

He was ostentatiously busy with a large plum.
"Rick, dear, won't you tell me ?" "Tell you! Why, it's all nonsense, you know." "Rick, dear!" said Claudia again, with her arm around his neck.
He was going to carry on his jest a little further, when he happened to look at her.
"Why, Clau, you look as if you were almost--" "Never mind that," she said quickly.

"Oh! do tell me." "It is quite true.

She's written breaking it off, and has accepted Haddington.

But it's a secret, you know, till they've heard from Eugene, at all events.