"Not so much as I'd like," replied Susan, seriously. "I never seem to get time. We nearly always have guests at Silverdale, and then there are so many things one has to attend to. Perhaps you have noticed," she added, smiling a little, "that we are very serious and old-fashioned."
"Oh, no indeed," protested Honora. "It is such a wonderful experience for me to be here!"
"Well," said Susan, "we're having some young people to dinner to-night, and others next week—that's why I'm leaving these notes. And then we shall be a little livelier."
"Really, Susan, you mustn't think that I'm not having a good time. It is exciting to be in the same house with a real French Vicomte, and I like Mr. Spence tremendously."
Her friend was silent.
"Don't you?" demanded Honora.
To her surprise, the usually tolerant Susan did not wholly approve of Mr.
Spence.
"He is a guest, and I ought not to criticise him," she answered. "But since you ask me, Honora, I have to be honest. It seems to me that his ambitions are a little sordid—that he is too intent upon growing rich."
"But I thought all New Yorkers were that way," exclaimed Honora, and added hastily, "except a few, like your family, Susan."
Susan laughed.