"And I suppose in five years you will be saying the same about this present little affair."
Nan did not reply to this but instead asked, "Did Jack say anything about Carter?"
"Not one word. I am afraid she is a heartless youngster."
"Poor old Cart," returned Nan. "However, Mary Lee, Jack may be all right at heart; she generally is, though she is so thoughtless. I shall talk to her and see if she has any confidences to give. She is mighty young yet and we can scarcely expect her to be anything but a flyaway. She looks well."
"And so does Jean. I think mother was wise to bring them away from possible danger."
"Dear old mother, she always does just the right thing."
"Of course," returned Mary Lee as if that were a question no one could doubt. "I suppose now that Jack has arrived we may look for lively times, Nan," a prophecy which was not without fulfilment as was later seen.
"Well, you were wishing for excitement this morning," returned Nan, "but we certainly did not expect it to be furnished by Jack. Isn't it just the climax of our pleasure here, Mary Lee, to have mother and the girls? We shall have to stay in Tokyo for a while anyway to let them see the sights."
"And I suppose," said Mary Lee slyly, "you are not sorry for the excuse."
Nan pretended not to understand this thrust, and went on discussing plans while Mary Lee had her own thoughts about Nan's satisfaction in the prolonged stay in Tokyo.