"An affectation of silence is as bad. I hate that particular _pose_;
it's coming up very much now; an imitation of the English, like
everything else. A girl who tries to be statuesque at sea--that will act
on one's nerves!"

"I don't know what she tries to be, but she succeeds in being very
handsome."

"So much the better for you. I'll leave her to you, for I shall be shut
up. I like her being placed under my 'care'!" my friend cried.

"She'll be under Jasper's," I remarked.

"Ah he won't go," she wailed--"I want it too much!"

"But I didn't see it that way. I have an idea he'll go."

"Why didn't he tell me so then--when he came in?"

"He was diverted by that young woman--a beautiful unexpected girl sitting
there."

"Diverted from his mother and her fond hope?--his mother trembling for
his decision?"

"Well"--I pieced it together--"she's an old friend, older than we know.
It was a meeting after a long separation."

"Yes, such a lot of them as he does know!" Mrs. Nettlepoint sighed.