He replied to it and drifted quite naturally into a general conversation.

Without any evident effort, he seemed to desire to bring his tete-a-tete with Catherine to a close.

She showed no sign of disappointment; indeed she fell into his humour and made vigorous efforts to attack the subject of Y.M.C.A.

huts with her neighbour on the right.

The rest of the meal passed in this manner, and it was not until they met, an hour later, in the Princess' famous reception room, that they exchanged more than a casual word.