"Why, of course, dear; aren't you?"
"Indeed I am, too fond of them. I lost my only child, a baby girl----"
"And you never have had another?"
"No."
"If Robert would marry, we should have a family hope there," continued Imogene. "But I am afraid he never will. How did you enjoy your evening at The Towers?"
"We had a delightful time."
"Isn't Robert a good host? I love to see him preside. And he hasn't given a dinner before for years."
"Why is that?"
Imogene laid her hand gently on Alice's. "It is a long story, dear, a tragedy came into his life--into all our lives, in fact. It changed him greatly."
Soon after the MacBirneys came down, the Nelsons arrived on the scene and the company moved to a south room to get the breeze. Imogene talked with Alice and MacBirney, but Kimberly joined them and listened, taking part at intervals in the conversation.