'You young ladies observe pretty minutely, I must confess.'
'Yes, yes!' cried Trixy. 'Girls, do let father speak.'
'I was going to say, Trixy, that my eyes, I am afraid, are not so clever as yours. As far as I can remember, Tom took it very quietly, didn't dance, didn't laugh, didn't put on height. His eyes may have shone; but, as I am not a competent observer, I refuse to pledge myself. My impression is that when you see him next you will know him.'
'Father, do you know that you are not at all interesting?' cried the irrepressible Trixy.
'Oh! if you want romance you shall have it. Give me five minutes——'
'You know we don't want romance. We want facts.'
'Which I have given you, Miss Monkey.'
'A very meagre supply, dad.'
'Limited intelligences——'
'Excuse me, dad; people with powers of observation and inference——'