"I had a charming tune," replied Mrs. Lessing. She shook the
dust out of her long gray veils smiling at her memory of the
morning.

"Did R. P. prove docile?"

Docile' doesn't seem to me just the word."

"I used it in an attempt at fine irony," explained! Mrs.
Macauley.

"Well, was he tractable, then?"

"He was very polite and kind and jolly - until the real
business of shopping began. Then he became suspicious - and a
trifle autocratic." She recalled his look as he told her
that he would trust her, but that he meant to keep an eye upon
her.

Didn't you get your own way about anything?" demanded her
sister, with eager curiosity.

Ellen looked at her. Martha noted that the soft black eves
were glowing, and that she had not seen Ellen appear more
alive and interested since the days before trouble came to
her. "Do you imagine we fought a battle over our shopping?"
she asked, her lips curving with merriment.

"But you don't tell me. I'm anxious to know whether we shall
see the boy dressed according to Red's ideas or yours."