"How do you do?" he called, and she caught in his tone and in her first glimpse of his face a certain mischievousness, as if he, who missed no points for idle enjoyment of any situation, had a satisfaction in taking her by surprise with his greeting. This put her on her mettle with the quickness of a summons to fence. She was as nonchalant as he.
"And you are doing well, I learn," she answered.
"Oh, come in and hear it, Miss Ewold! It's the best one yet!" cried
Belvedere Smith. "And—and—"
"And—and—" began the chorus.
Mary went to the hedge. She dropped the glass of jelly on the thick carpet of the privet.
"I have just brought my gift. I'll leave it here. Belvy will bring it when the story is over. I am glad you are recovering so rapidly."
"And—and—" insisted the chorus.
"You oughtn't to miss this story. It's a regular Jim dandy!"
Belvedere shouted.
"Yes, won't you come in?" Jack begged in serious urgency. "I pride myself that it is almost intellectual toward the close."
"I have no doubt," she said, looking fairly at him from under her hand, which she held up to shade her face, so he saw only the snap of her eyes in the shadow. "But I am in a hurry."