"David will bring her home."
"He'll be only too glad of the chance; how pretty she was to-night! You must have been very proud of her."
"Not in the least. Beauty isn't a thing to be proud of. Quite the contrary."
Mrs. Richie laughed: "You are hopeless, Mr. Ferguson! What is a girl for, if not to be sweet and pretty and charming? And Elizabeth is all three."
"I would rather have her good."
"But prettiness doesn't interfere with goodness! And Elizabeth is a dear, good child."
"I hope she is," he said
"You know she is," she declared.
"Well, she has her good points," he admitted; and put his hand up to his lean cheek as if he still felt the flower-like touch of Elizabeth's lips.
"But they have all grown up," Mrs. Richie said. "Mr. Ferguson, David wants to smoke! What shall I do?"