"The first time."
"Yes."
He swallowed and then went on. "Do you remember what I said to you ... on the platform at Whitcombe?"
She spoke more quickly and loudly as she answered him. "Oh, yes," she said, "we got engaged, didn't we? We were kids!..."
Mrs. Graham caught the word "engaged."
"Who's engaged?" she asked.
"No one, mother," Mary answered. "Quinny and I were talking about the time when we were engaged!..."
He felt a frightful fool. What on earth had possessed her that she should treat the matter in this fashion?
"Were you engaged, dear?" Mrs. Graham said.
"Oh, yes, mother. Don't you remember? Of course, we were kids then!..."