"Then he'll get lots of sleep here," said she. "Oh, do tell me the name of that pretty girl who came with you! I never can catch a name when I am introduced to a person."

"A Miss Rossignol—she's a friend of uncle's—she's French."

"And the dear old lady is her mother, I suppose?"

"Yes. She writes books."

"An authoress?"

"Yes—at least, I believe she translates books. She is awfully clever."

"Well played!" cried Miss Squire Simpson, breaking from the subject into an ecstasy at a stroke made by one of the flannelled fools—then resuming:

"She must be clever. And are you all staying here together?"

"Yes, at the Rose Hotel."

"You will find it a dear little place," said she, unconscious of any double entendre, "and you will get lots of tennis down here. Do you fish?"