Virginia, who had come near enough to overhear the last few words, stood listening, fascinated.
"The City of Big Things!" she echoed.
Stafford laughed. Rising and turning to Virginia, He said courteously:
"But we didn't come here to talk business and such subjects as that." Changing the topic, he asked: "Have you read any of the new books, Miss Blaine?"
"I'm afraid not," she smiled.
"Virgie hasn't had much time to read lately," interrupted Fanny.
"Busy?" demanded their host.
"Well, it's this way," explained the elder sister, "we've had a lot of sewing to do, and three times in the last two weeks she's taken me to the art galleries to look at the pictures."
"Really!" exclaimed Stafford.
"Yes," broke in Jimmie, with a grin, "one time they took me. Some of the pictures were great, but I couldn't stand for those milk chocolate Dutch women with the Mellen's Food babies. I like pictures with something doing in them for mine—such as battles and sea pictures."