She could have called him by his middle name, Gordon--Mr.Gordon, and passed him off as some ordinary acquaintance in whom Elise could have no possible interest.
It was a relief when Elise turned her attention to Mary's affairs, and when she saw that her turn was coming again, she set her teeth together grimly, determined to make no answer.
Presently, to her surprise, Elise relapsed into silence, and stood looking out of the window, tapping on the kettle with her spoon in a preoccupied way.

Then she laughed suddenly as if she saw something funny, and being questioned, refused to give the reason.
"I just thought of something," she said, laughing again.

"Something too funny for words.

I'll have to go now," she added, as if the cause of her mysterious mirth was in some way responsible for her departure.
"Thanks mightily for the candy, Mary.

It's the best ever.