I tried to punish her for this when we were in the carriage again, by telling her I supposed she was unwilling to travel on with me. But I wasted my breath and my effort, as she was all the way in the highest spirits.
"I don't quite know which I like best," she said, laughing. "Being sister with a knowledge of—of something else, as I was just now at the inn, or—or..."
"Or what?"
"Or riding with Hamylton Tregethner," she answered, laughing again, gleefully. "Do you notice how easily I can say that dreadful name?"
"I notice I like it better from your lips than from any others."
"I've practised it—and it was so difficult. But I might even get to like it in time, you know."
"By the way, I remember you once told me you didn't like Hamylton Tregethner."
"Ah, yes. That was my brother's old friend. A very disagreeable person. He wanted to take my brother away from Moscow. A person must be very unpleasant who wishes to divide brother and sister. Don't you think so?"
"That depends on the rate of exchange," said I.
"Perhaps; but at that time there was no talk of exchange at all."