"Well, good-bye, it is getting near our dinner hour, I must off; and, as I live, here is the King from Ottawa; you are here opportunely to play gooseberry, Mrs. Dale; oh, I must tell you, you know, how quiet Mrs. Tremaine is. Well, she went back in the dark last Sunday evening for her dolman, it was so cold, but when she hung it over the front of the pew it proved to be the Captain's trousers!"
"How do you do, dear Mrs. Gower?" he said with empressement, his strikingly handsome face aglow with pleasure.
"'Mrs. Dale, my friend, Mr. King,' from the tower-crowned city, dear."
"And you come to a spire-crowned one, at which, Mr. King, don't become unduly elevated."
"I am in the heights," he said, with a swift glance at Mrs. Gower.
"Then beware of the attraction of gravitation," laughed his hostess, thinking, "I shall have to do a little fencing, I can see by his face."
"Excuse me, Elaine, I see my family are arriving."
"Quite a cavalcade, Mr. King," she said, gaily.
"And mercy me, that young monkey is on horseback, while the driver is giving his attention to bell ringing; I must fly. May I bring them upstairs, Elaine?"
"Certainly, dear; and as your colony will want you all to themselves, send Miss Crew to the drawing-room; she will be happy with the piano."