Eugenia, radiant in her most becoming dinner gown of holly red, came running down the steps to meet them.
Ever since she had been established as mistress of this beautiful country place, she had longed for them to visit her.

Guests she had in plenty, for young Doctor Tremont and his wife were noted for their lavish hospitality, but the welcome accorded her new friends and neighbours was nothing to the one reserved for these old friends of her girlhood.

She wanted them to see for themselves that she had made no mistake in her weaving, and that marriage had indeed brought her the "diamond leaf" that Abdallah found only in Paradise.
"Patricia had just dropped asleep," she told them as she led the way up stairs.

Not that it was the proper time, but she was always doing unexpected things.

That very day she had surprised them with four new words which they had not dreamed she could say.