"Sad," said Jardine, eyeing the twain indulgently.
They were both munching grapes just now and took no notice.
"They ought to be separated," said Frank, with his capable air. "Offer a premium to the one who gets married first."
"The blessed man would be premium enough," Lucia declared, "if we just could catch him."
"Oh, my dear, think how your voice carries," her aunt hastily admonished her.
"Why, he, whoever he may be, might hear it and come to the rescue."
There was a moment's silence, filled with grapes.
"Mamma thinks that we never see anything," said Ruth, with a very knowing air.
"Didn't he stare?" commented Lucia.
"Who?—the very handsome man that mamma thought Mr. Jardine was monopolising and denying her his acquaintance?" said Frank, with his callow chuckle.