It was very much as an intimate friend that he said to her, suddenly, after a short pause which he had occupied in smiling, as he looked about him, like a person amused, at a provincial entertainment, by some innocent game of guesses-- "Well now, I suppose you're very happy and all that sort of thing ?" Isabel answered with a quick laugh; the tone of his remark struck her almost as the accent of comedy.

"Do you suppose if I were not I'd tell you ?" "Well, I don't know.

I don't see why not." "I do then.

Fortunately, however, I'm very happy." "You've got an awfully good house." "Yes, it's very pleasant.

But that's not my merit--it's my husband's." "You mean he has arranged it ?" "Yes, it was nothing when we came." "He must be very clever." "He has a genius for upholstery," said Isabel.
"There's a great rage for that sort of thing now.