'Well, you might have told me you knew him all this time!' Mrs. Mavis exclaimed. Then smiling at Mrs. Nettlepoint she added, 'It would have saved me a worry, an acquaintance already begun.'
'Ah, my son's acquaintances——!' Mrs. Nettlepoint murmured.
'Yes, and my daughter's too!' cried Mrs. Mavis, jovially. 'Mrs. Allen didn't tell us you were going,' she continued, to the young man.
'She would have been clever if she had been able to!' Mrs. Nettlepoint ejaculated.
'Dear mother, I have my telegram,' Jasper remarked, looking at Grace Mavis.
'I know you very little,' the girl said, returning his observation.
'I've danced with you at some ball—for some sufferers by something or other.'
'I think it was an inundation,' she replied, smiling. 'But it was a long time ago—and I haven't seen you since.'
'I have been in far countries—to my loss. I should have said it was for a big fire.'