The young man, after a slight hesitation,
greeted Miss Mavis with a handshake and a "Oh good-evening, how do you
do?" He didn't utter her name--which I could see he must have forgotten;
but she immediately pronounced his, availing herself of the American
girl's discretion to "present" him to her mother.
"Well, you might have told me you knew him all this time!" that lady
jovially cried. Then she had an equal confidence for Mrs. Nettlepoint.
"It would have saved me a worry--an acquaintance already begun."
"Ah my son's acquaintances!" our hostess murmured.
"Yes, and my daughter's too!" Mrs. Mavis gaily echoed. "Mrs. Allen
didn't tell us _you_ were going," she continued to the young man.
"She'd have been clever if she had been able to!" Mrs. Nettlepoint
sighed.
"Dear mother, I have my telegram," Jasper remarked, looking at Grace
Mavis.
"I know you very little," the girl said, returning his observation.
"I've danced with you at some ball--for some sufferers by something or
other."
"I think it was an inundation or a big fire," she a little languidly
smiled. "But it was a long time ago--and I haven't seen you since."
"I've been in far countries--to my loss. I should have said it was a big
fire."
"It was at the Horticultural Hall.
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