it--that if you care for shooting or fishing, the keeper will come
in and take your orders. She thinks you might like to ask Jack to
luncheon and go out with him; she sends you her love, and wants you
to do what you like."

"Thank you very much!" said Howard, "I rather expect Jack will be
round here and I will ask him. I know he would like it, and I
should too--if you are sure Mrs. Graves approves."

"Oh, yes," said Miss Merry, smiling, "she always approves of people
doing what they like."

Miss Merry still hesitated at the door. "May I ask you another
question, Mr. Kennedy--I hope I am not troublesome--I wonder if you
could suggest some books for us to read? I read a good deal to Mrs.
Graves, and I am afraid we get rather into a groove. We ought to
read some of the new books; we want to know what people are saying
and thinking--we don't want to get behind."

"Why, of course," said Howard, "I shall be delighted--but I am
afraid I am not likely to be of much use; I don't read as much as I
ought; but if you will tell me the sort of things you care about,
and what you have been reading, we will try to make out a list.
Won't you sit down and see what we can do?"

"Oh, I don't like to interrupt you," said Miss Merry. "But if you
would be so kind."

She sat down at the far end of the table, and Howard was dimly and
amusedly conscious that this tete-a-tete was of the nature of a