“He didn’t seem to mind a bit.”

“No. Hasn’t he a funny half-embarrassed, half-cool manner?”

“He wasn’t embarrassed after he was fairly speaking. You know he was really fine-looking, when he spoke.”

“Yes,” said Dorothy. “You said he had a dull, heavy face.”

“That was the first time I saw him, Dorothy. It’s a face which varies very much. Oliver, drive to the United States. We will take him home to dinner.”

“Oh, good,” cried the youngest. “Then he will tell us why they laughed.”

As they drove up to the hotel, Peter had just reached the steps. He turned to the carriage, the moment he saw that they wanted him.

“We wish to carry you off to a simple country dinner,” Miss De Voe told him.

“I am going to take the special to New York, and that leaves in half an hour.”

“Take a later train.”