Berersford heard the word fish and interrupted.
“Do you go South next month, Marian?”
“Yes—about the fifteenth.” Miss Trevor explained to Howard: “Bobby—Mr. Berersford here—always fishes in Florida in January.”
The conversation again became general and personal. Howard knew none of the people of whom they were talking and all that they said was of the nature of gossip. But they talked in a sparkling way, using good English, speaking in agreeable voices with a correct accent, and indulging in a great deal of malicious humour.
As they separated Mrs. Sidney, to whom Howard had not spoken during the evening, said to Segur: “You must bring Mr. Howard on Sunday afternoon.”
“Will you drop Marian at the house for me?” Mrs. Carnarvon asked her. “I want to go on to Edith’s.”
Segur went with Mrs. Sidney and Marian to their carriage. “Who is Mr. Howard?” Mrs. Sidney said, and Miss Trevor drew nearer to hear the answer.
“One of the editorial writers down on the paper and a very clever one—none better. He works hard and is desperately serious and a regular hermit.”
“I think he’s very handsome—don’t you, Marian?”
“I found him interesting,” said Miss Trevor.