"Oh, that? Yes."
"Why, what did you think I was looking for?"
"I really hardly know;" she smiles, and then says quietly, "Why, amusement, of course."
At this moment Minnie Hescott, who detests being left out of anything, determines on boring a way into the tête-à-tête before her.
"Where is Tita?" asks she. "We wanted her for tennis, she is such a good player; but no one could find her."
"Not even your brother?" asks Mrs. Bethune.
"Not even Tom; she disappeared somewhere after breakfast."
"Why, so did he!" and Mrs. Bethune lifts her brows in a very amused fashion.
"Oh no, he didn't," says Minnie Hescott, casting a sudden shrewd glance at her. "He was in the library writing letters till an hour ago. I know that, because I was with him."
"What an excellent sister you are!" says Mrs. Bethune, with a slight laugh.