There was a moment's pause when she came to the end of her speech, and then the thread of talk was quietly taken up again where Sybil's incipient sneer had broken it.
Carrington came in.

"What have you been doing at the Capitol ?" asked Madeleine.
"Lobbying!" was the reply, given in the semi-serious tone of Carrington's humour.
"So soon, and Congress only two days old ?" exclaimed Mrs.Lee.
"Madam," rejoined Carrington, with his quietest malice, "Congressmen are like birds of the air, which are caught only by the early worm." "Good afternoon, Mrs.Lee.Miss Sybil, how do you do again?
Which of these gentlemen's hearts are you feeding upon now ?" This was the refined style of Mr.French, indulging in what he was pleased to term "badinaige." He, too, was on his way from the Capitol, and had come in for a cup of tea and a little human society.

Sybil made a face which plainly expressed a longing to inflict on Mr.French some grievous personal wrong, but she pretended not to hear.

He sat down by Madeleine, and asked, "Did you see Ratcliffe yesterday ?" "Yes," said Madeleine; "he was here last evening with Mr.Carrington and one or two others." "Did he say anything about politics ?" "Not a word.

We talked mostly about books." "Books! What does he know about books ?" "You must ask him." "Well, this is the most ridiculous situation we are all in.