That's lots more intimate and sociable than tete-a-tete." "That's what I thought, too," exclaimed Mary.

"And isn't it nice, when you come visiting this way, to know everybody's history beforehand! Then just as soon as they appear on the scene you can fit in a background behind them." It was the first remark Mary had made in Rob's hearing, except an occasional monosyllable in regard to her choice of dishes on the bill of fare, and he turned to look at her with an amused smile, as if he had just waked up to the fact that she was present.
"She's a homely little thing," he thought, "but she looks as if she might grow up to be diverting company.

She couldn't be a sister of Joyce's and not be bright." Then, in order to hear what she might say, he began to ask her questions.

She was eating ice-cream.

Joyce, who had refused dessert on account of a headache, opened her chatelaine bag to take out an envelope already stamped and addressed.
"If you'll excuse me while you finish your coffee," she said to Rob, "I'll scribble a line to mamma to let her know we've arrived safely.
I've dropped notes all along the way, but this is the one she'll be waiting for most anxiously.