"How did you leave your cousins in England, Tom?" asked Mrs. Gray, trying to keep the ball rolling and inwardly wishing she had never asked her nephew down.
"Quite well, thank you, aunt," replied Thomas Gray. "I expect to leave this beastly country and join them very soon."
"Indeed?" answered Mrs. Gray, flushing and with difficulty keeping back the tears of disappointment. To think a nephew of hers could have turned out like this!
"Do you play football?" demanded Hippy abruptly.
"Really, I don't care for the game," answered Thomas. "It's awfully rough, don't you know."
"Perhaps you prefer baseball?" suggested Grace.
"No," continued the young man, "I can't say I do. The truth is, I don't like outdoor games at all."
"What do you like, then?" demanded Nora, giving him a glance of ineffable scorn.
"I like afternoon tea," he answered, "and bridge."
Reddy almost groaned aloud, but he remembered his manners and choked his outburst of disgust.