"Shall I not go back to the dining-room and send a waiter to you?"
"No, indeed--he would be sure to know me, and I should get put on the list."
"The stationers who sent out the invitations will do that."
"Oh, well--I can only say I never came. But the waiter would swear to me, and very likely describe my dress. No, I shall wait a little longer. Stay here and keep me company."
"Oh, it will be delightful!" quavered Miss Snow, though worrying at the prospect of getting away late on foot, and ill able to afford cab-hire.
"You've heard of the engagement, I suppose?"
"Which of them?" asked Miss Snow, skilfully hedging.
"Why, the only one, so far as I know. Why, haven't you heard? Ralph Underwood and Winnie Parke."
"Oh, yes! has that come out? I have been away from home for a few days, and had not heard. Very pleasant, I'm sure."
"Very--for her. It was her sister who did it, Mrs. Al Smith. She's a very clever young woman; fished for Al herself in the most barefaced way, and now she's caught Ralph for her sister; and she's not nearly so good-looking, either, Winnie Parke, though I should say she had a better temper than Margaret. You know Margaret Smith of course?"
"Not very well," said Miss Snow, deprecatingly. "I thought when you spoke of an engagement you meant Malcolm Johnson and Caroline Foster."
"That never will be an engagement!" said Mrs. Freeman scornfully.
"Oh! I am very glad to hear you say so--only I have met him so much there lately, and it quite worried me; it would be such a bad thing for dear Caroline; she is a sweet girl."
"You need not worry about it any longer, for I know positively that she has refused him."
"I am very glad. I was so afraid that Caroline--she is so amiable a girl, you know, and so apt to do what people tell her to--I was afraid she might say yes for fear of hurting his feelings."
"She would never dream of his having feelings--her position is so different. Why, Caroline is a cousin of my own."
"Oh, yes, of course--only he would doubtless be so much in love; and many people think him delightful--he _was_ very handsome."
"Before Caroline was born, maybe. No, no, Caroline has plenty of sense, though she looks so gentle--and then the family would never hear of it. His affairs are in a shocking condition. Why, you know what he lost in Atchison--and I happen to know that his other investments are in a very shaky condition."