"You don't look it. You look gaunt.... Well, I never thought you'd come to this—that you had it in you to do anything useful."
"I believe I've heard you say so now and then," he said with perfect good-humour.
"Why not? Why should I have thought that your talents amounted to more than ornaments?"
"No reason to suppose so," he admitted, amused.
"Not the slightest. Talent usually damns people to an effortless existence. And yours was a pleasant one, too. You had a good time, didn't you?"
"Oh, very."
"There was nothing to do except to come in, kiss the girls all around, and make faces to amuse them, was there?"
"Not much more," he admitted, laughing.
Mrs. Sprowl's little green eyes travelled all over the walls.
"Umph," she snorted, "I suppose these are some of Dankmere's heirlooms. I never fancied that little bounder——"