It seems funny to you, but when you think of my whole lovely visit spoiled that way--" She stopped abruptly, so much in earnest that her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears.
Instantly Rob's laughter ceased, and he begged her pardon in such a grave, kind way, assuring her that her confidence should be respected, that her admiration of him went up several more degrees.

When the girls came down, he could not be prevailed upon to tell them what had sent him off into such fits of laughter.

"Just Mary's entertaining remarks," was all he would say, looking across at her with a meaning twinkle in his eyes.

She immediately retired into the background as soon as the older girls appeared, but she sat admiring every word Rob said, and watching every movement.
"He's the very nicest man I ever saw," she said to herself.

"He treats me as if I were grown up, and I really believe he likes to hear me talk." Once when they were arranging for a tennis game for the next morning, he crossed the room with an amused smile, to say to her in a low aside: "I've thought of something to help along the stork's cause.