"And the town," she added; "no doubt you find the town improved too?"
"Altered," said Conrad, thinking of the market garden. "Well, it is certainly bigger."
"The rapid development of Sweetbay can astonish none who bear in mind its remarkable combination of climatic advantages, but the sylvan fairness of the town is not diminished, and it continues to present an unrivalled example of the 'rus in urbe,'" responded the lady with surprising fluency. "Do you take sugar and milk?"
"Ah—thank you," he said.
"Are you making a long stay among us, or——?"
"A very brief one. Indeed, I thought of returning to-morrow."
"Oh!" There was a tinge of disappointment in her "Oh." "I wondered if you meant to stop. If you had meant to pass the winter here— But I daresay you would have preferred an hotel anyhow?"
"I don't understand," he said, sipping. "What is it you were going to be good enough to suggest?"
"It occurred to me that, as the house has so many associations for you, you might have liked to take it for a short term. I am trying to let it furnished during the next few months, and I could leave the servants. My cook has been with me now——"
"You would let this house to me?" exclaimed Conrad, thrilling, and saw such splendid visions that for quite a minute he forgot to attend to her.