Mavis.
Then the young man gave me his attention. The next minute he asked of
the girl: "Do you mean you're going to Europe?"
"Yes, tomorrow. In the same ship as your mother."
"That's what we've come here for, to see all about it," said Mrs. Mavis.
"My son, take pity on me and tell me what light your telegram throws,"
Mrs. Nettlepoint went on.
"I will, dearest, when I've quenched my thirst." And he slowly drained
his glass.
"Well, I declare you're worse than Gracie," Mrs. Mavis commented. "She
was first one thing and then the other--but only about up to three
o'clock yesterday."
"Excuse me--won't you take something?" Jasper inquired of Gracie; who
however still declined, as if to make up for her mother's copious
_consommation_. I found myself quite aware that the two ladies would do
well to take leave, the question of Mrs. Nettlepoint's good will being so
satisfactorily settled and the meeting of the morrow at the ship so near
at hand and I went so far as to judge that their protracted stay, with
their hostess visibly in a fidget, gave the last proof of their want of
breeding. Miss Grace after all then was not such an improvement on her
mother, for she easily might have taken the initiative of departure, in
spite of Mrs. Mavis's evident "game" of making her own absorption of
refreshment last as long as possible.
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