“Oh, we had lots of accidents,” she said, “but we never thought of turning back but once.”
“And why was that?” asked Lord Glenarm with much interest.
“It was because Cousin Helen got so awfully hungry in Iowa.”
The Englishman threw back his head and laughed as if he enjoyed it immensely. The others laughed, too, and the ice was broken.
“I should never have imagined this fragile, dainty little lady had an appetite,” he exclaimed, turning to Miss Campbell.
“And why not, pray?” demanded Miss Campbell. “I can’t exist on canned tomatoes and soggy bread any more than any one else.”
“We will see that you fare better in England, Miss Campbell,” he said. “You shall have squab and strawberries and Devonshire cream. Isn’t that what ladies like?”
“They like good beefsteak when they are hungry,” said Miss Campbell. “And riding in the open air all day is calculated to give one a pretty fair appetite.”
“The girls have brought their famous car with them, Lord Glenarm,” put in Maria.
“Oh, ho!” he exclaimed, “so you’re going to tour the British Isles. That’s a mere bagatelle to such seasoned motorists as you, I suppose. But when you come to Ireland, perhaps you’ll stop and visit me. I have a nice old place there.”