Edith's new attitude was more intelligible to Marian than to the men, but discretion suggested a change of subject.
"Harry is taking us home with him on Monday," she announced, suddenly turning to Hamlen and watching him narrowly as she spoke.
"On Monday?" Hamlen repeated after her. The color rushed into his usually pale face, and a tremor in his voice showed how much the news affected him. "You are going Monday?"
"The Thatcher family intact," Marian answered him; "I don't know about the others."
"Of course Ricky and I go when you do," Edith added. "I'm quite ready. The place is beginning to pall on me."
There was an injured look in Hamlen's face as he turned to her quickly. "Don't say that of my beautiful island!" he begged.
"Oh, the place is all right," Edith assured him; "it is simply some of the foreign element I don't like."
"Must you really go?" Hamlen asked Thatcher appealingly.
"It is my master's voice, and we slaves of the market dare not disregard the call."
Hamlen forced a smile. "I shall miss you," he said simply.