"Well, thereby hangs a tale; it is a Christmas gift from Santa Claus. All I know about it is, it came (Thomas thinks) from Slight's."
"It was no slight to you, Elaine," said Cobbe, jokingly.
On the mention, before so many, of her Christian name she made an expressive moue at Tremaine, unseen by the others, whose attention was momentarily given to several booklets and cards which lay on a pretty gilt stand, and while Miss O'Sullivan and McCullogh turned the pages of "Erminie" for Miss Crew at the piano.
"Wait until Monday, Buckingham. I take the Midland then, in your direction," said St. Clair.
"Impossible, St. Clair. I should have been as far as Lindsay yesterday."
On the clock striking three, St. Clair started to his feet, buttoning his coat.
"Good-bye, Mrs. Gower. 'Time and tide,' you know."
"Oh, yes; but Time is not such a churl as to bid you away before I have had even a look at you."
"But we men come to look at you, to-day, and, as usual, gratify ourselves. Au revoir. I promised Noah to be back at three, to let him off for a skate."
"'What's in a name?'" said Tremaine. "I wonder what relation he of the Ark was to that boy."