"It is quite delightful to see a person with such an enjoyment of every phase of existence," said Gertrude, half to herself.
"You poor, dear blasée thing. It is a pretty sight to see the young people enjoying themselves, as the little boy said in Punch, is it not? I wonder if Mr. Jermyn is going to walk all the way? Perhaps he will take the omnibus at the corner. He never 'soars higher than a 'bus,' as he expresses it."
Wearying suddenly of the sport, Phyllis dropped the blind, and, coming over to Gertrude, knelt on the floor at her feet.
"It is a little dull, ain't it, Gerty, to look at life from a top-floor window?"
A curious pang went through Gertrude, as she tenderly stroked the nut-brown head.
"You haven't heard our news," she said, irrelevantly. "There, read that." And taking Mr. Darrell's note from her pocket, she handed it to Phyllis.
The latter read it through rather languidly.
"Yes, I suppose it is a good thing to be employed by such a person," she remarked. "Sidney Darrell?—Didn't I tell you I met him last week at the Oakleys, the day I went to tea?"
* * * * *