It was at dinner. Uncle Charlie looked up at his niece, whom he knew as Emmy Lou, not, as yet, having met Miss MacLauren. He had heard her laugh before, but not just that way; generally she had laughed because other people laughed. Now she seemed to be doing it of herself. There is a difference.
Emmy Lou was thinking of the changed point of view of Hattie and Rosalie, “It’s—it’s funny—” she explained, in answer to Uncle Charlie’s look.
“No!” said Uncle Charlie. “And you see it? Well!”
What on earth was Uncle Charlie talking about?
“I congratulate you,” he continued. “It will never be so hard again.”
“What?” asked Emmy Lou.
“Anything,” said Uncle Charlie.
What was he talking about?
“A sense of humour,” said Uncle Charlie, as though one had spoken.
Emma Lou smiled absently. Some of Uncle Charlie’s joking which she was used to accepting as mystifying.