'It is a very nice day,' he said, gravely. Kitty looked up and
laughed merrily.

'I don't think that's a very original remark,' she said coolly,
producing an apple from her pocket. 'If that's all you've got to
say, I hope Madame won't be long.'

Vandeloup laughed again at her petulance, and eyed her critically as
she took a bit out of the red side of the apple with her white
teeth.

'You like apples?' he asked, very much amused by her candour.

'Pretty well,' returned Miss Marchurst, eyeing the fruit in a
disparaging manner; 'peaches are nicer; are Madame's peaches ripe?'
looking anxiously at him.

'I think they are,' rejoined Gaston, gravely.

'Then we'll have some for tea,' decided Kitty, taking another bite
out of her apple.

'I'm going to stay to tea, you know,' she went on in a
conversational tone. 'I always stay to tea when I'm on a visit here,
and then Brown--that's our man,' in an explanatory manner, 'comes
and fetches me home.'

'Happy Brown!' murmured Vandeloup, who really meant what he said.