"Oh, I beg your pardon," laughed Alice. "If Ted approves we must all go down and worship."
"And father, too," continued Hope. "He said he thought Mr. Clay was one of the most remarkable men for his years that he had ever met."
Miss Langham's eyes were hidden by the masses of her black hair that she had shaken over her face, and she said nothing.
"And I liked the way he shut Reggie King up too," continued Hope, stoutly, "when he and father were talking that way about Madame Alvarez."
"Yes, upon my word," exclaimed her sister, impatiently tossing her hair back over her shoulders. "I really cannot see that Madame Alvarez is in need of any champion. I thought Mr. Clay made it very much worse by rushing in the way he did. Why should he take it upon himself to correct a man as old as my father?"
"I suppose because Madame Alvarez is a friend of his," Hope answered.
"My dear child, a beautiful woman can always find some man to take her part," said Miss Langham. "But I've no doubt," she added, rising and kissing her sister good-night, "that he is all that your Captain Stuart thinks him; but he is not going to keep us awake any longer, is he, even if he does show such gallant interest in old ladies?"
"Old ladies!" exclaimed Hope in amazement.
"Why, Alice!"
But her sister only laughed and waved her out of the room, and Hope walked away frowning in much perplexity.