"Any telegram, or anything?" asked Joan carelessly.
"Naething whatever! He'll no be back till the morn, I doot," said Mr. Goble.
Two hours later, when supper was over and the dancing at its height, Mr. Haliburton approached Joan.
"Our dance, I think, Cherry Ripe?" he said.
Cherry Ripe concurred.
"Will you come and sit in the conservatory?" continued Haliburton. "I want to say something particular to you."
Joan regarded him covertly for a moment.
"All right!" she said.