'Is it long since you have seen the place?'
'I can hardly be said to have "seen" it at all. I think my landscape eyes were not open at that remote period of which you speak.'
'I was a red squirrel then, in the "former state" to which I referred a while ago. So you see your late threat has no terrors for me. Is it in process of execution?'
'O were you?' said Miss Hazel, absorbed in her drawing. 'Yes— but the expression is very difficult!—Did you think you knew me as a field mouse?'
He laughed a little.
'Then, I suppose you have not the pleasure of knowing your neighbours, the Marylands?—except the specimen lately on hand?'
'No, I have heard an account of them,' said Miss Kennedy. 'For shame, Mr. Rollo, Dr. Maryland isn't a "specimen." He's good. I like him.'
The gentleman made no remark upon this, but confined his attention to his work for a few minutes; then looked at his watch.
'Is that sketch ready to show?—Time's up.'
'And the squirrel is down. But not much else.'