"Puffie," explained she.
She did not laugh, for there was no cause. Puffie was really very nice, and he had a good name, but those gentlemen, while looking at her, smiled very agreeably, and one of them said to her father:
"How time passes! Not long ago I saw your younger daughter a little child, and now—"
The other interrupted: "She is almost grown. And as tall it seems as her elder sister."
"We have only very rarely the pleasure of seeing your family in society this winter," said the other.
"Your wife and daughter pass a very secluded life this year," said the second visitor.
"My wife complains of frequent neuralgia," answered father, and then the unknown, large man talked.
Hitherto Cara, while giving the conversation of the two gentlemen, changed her voice, imitating the tones, and posture of each; now she repeated the words of the large man in the rudest voice that she could command:
"I have not yet had the honor of being presented to your wife and elder daughter, but I have heard so much, etc."
Then they talked longer with her father about something else, and when going away gave her some nice compliments. She courtesied. She might say with confidence that she had played the role of a mature young lady brilliantly. Her father said, after the departure of the guests, that he was glad to receive the large man's visit. The large man might aid him greatly. Then he thought a while, and said: