“Read it,” said Mabel.
He glanced through it. It was very brief.
“Well?” asked Mabel.
“It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
“I should like to see it, if you don’t mind.”
She took the letter and read aloud: “Lukie, dear. Just back from two years’ travel. You two might blow in to lunch one day. Any old day. Chops and tomato sauce. Yours, Jona.”
“Most extraordinary,” said Mabel. “Why does she call you Lukie?”
“Well, damn it all,” said Luke, “she couldn’t call me lucky. Oh, what does it matter? We were boy and girl together. Innocent friends of long standing.”
“And what does this mean? Chops and tomato sauce? Chops! Gracious Heavens! And tomato sauce.”
“It’s just a joke. Silly, no doubt.”