"A little historical matter," he said, offering the dates. "No? Then," he produced a silver dish with the air of a conjurer, "a chocolate?"
Elizabeth chose deliberately.
"I'm looking for the biggest," she said. "You see I'm greedy."
"Not at all," said Mr. Inverarity. "Sweets to the sweet;" and he passed on his jokesome way.
"Sweets to the sweet," repeated Elizabeth. "Isn't it funny? Words that were dropped with violets over the drowned Ophelia now furnish witticisms for suburban young men."
"Miss Seton," said Mrs. Thomson, bustling up, "you're here. We're going back to the drawing-room now to have a little more music." She dropped her voice to a hoarse whisper. "Papa's asked Mr. Taylor to sing. Jessie'll be awful ill-pleased, but he's an old friend."
"Does he want to sing?" asked Elizabeth.
"Dyin' to," said Mrs. Thomson.
Back to the drawing-room flocked the company, and Mr. Taylor, to use his own words, "took the floor." Jessie was standing beside the Simpsons and saw him do it.
"What a funny little man that is!" said Miss Simpson languidly. "What's he going to do now?"