After dinner, when she was disinclined to walk or to talk, he brought out some newspapers and magazines and sat down beside her on deck and they read together.
At tea-time he took her down to the table again.
And after tea, as the September night was cool on the water, they sat down at one of the cabin tables and played checkers together until it was time to retire.
And thus all day long and all the evening through, in sight of all the people, Alden Lytton unconsciously conducted himself, as Mary Grey intended that he should, like her betrothed lover.
In due time they reached Washington, and crossed the length of the city to take the train for Philadelphia, where they arrived late on Thursday night.
"Have you any preference for one hotel over another?" inquired Alden, as they stood amid the horrible din of contesting hackmen, porters, 'bus-drivers, et cætera.
"None whatever," she answered.
"Then we'll go to the Blank House, if you have no objection."
"None. We will go there."
"Here's your Blank House 'bus!" shouted a driver above all the other shouts.