Sometimes Donna Inez came with the widow, while her father was hunting for the mummy in Pierside, and then Sir Frank Random would be sure to put in an appearance to woo his Dulcinea in admiring silence.

Mrs.Jasher declared that the two must have made love by telepathy, for they rarely exchanged a word.

But this was all the better, as Archie and Lucy chattered a great deal, and two pair of magpies--Mrs.Jasher declared--would have been too much for her nerves.
She made a very good chaperon, as she allowed the young people to act as they pleased, only sanctioning the meetings by her elderly presence.
One evening Mrs.Jasher was due to dinner, and Hope had already arrived.
No one else was expected, as Don Pedro had taken his daughter to the theatre at Pierside and Sir Frank had gone to London in connection with his military duties.

It was a bitterly cold night, and already a fall of snow had hinted that there was to be a real English Christmas of the genuine kind.

Lucy had prepared an excellent dinner for three, and Archie had brought a set of new patience cards for Mrs.Jasher, who was fond of the game.