"Poor, dear boy," she said. She turned to Anne with a bright smile. "What is it, dear?"
"Prince Koltsoff is with us, as you know. I think mother would be pleased if I married him. I don't know that I am not inclined to gratify her. I have n't talked to father yet."
"Then he has not told you about the Russian railroad thingamajigs he is gunning for?" asked Mrs. Van Valkenberg.
"Really!" Anne's eyes were very wide.
"Oh, I don't know anything about it," said Sara hastily. "Only—the men were speaking of it at the Van Antwerps', the other night. And how about Koltsoff?"
"His intentions are distressingly clear," said Anne.
Mrs. Van Valkenberg whistled.
"Congratulations," she said with an upward inflection. "You 've no idea—"
"Oh, sh's'sh!" exclaimed Anne. "Don't try to be enthusiastic if you find it so difficult. Anyway, there will be nothing to justify enthusiasm if I can help it."
"Really!" Sara regarded the girl narrowly. "If you can help it! What do you mean?"