Page 18 (1/2)

"Thanks," said Ellery briefly, and their eyes e of

assurance which is the masculine American equivalent for embrace and

eternal protestation Mrs Percival smiled to herself, amused yet

pleased by the frank boyish affection

"What kind of a time did you have at Mr Early's reception?" she asked

abruptly

"Oh, it was a circus with three rings In thehippopotamus of a Hindu He was really a sunburst Then in

the farthest ring there were a thousand wo

at once But in the nearest there were just Madeline and Mrs Lenox, and

that was a good show By Jove! Madeline is prettier than ever, and

hasn't found it out yet That's the advantage of sending a girl off to a

wohten her"

"Pretty! That's not the word to describe Miss Elton She's too sinified," remonstrated Norris

"Bowled over already, are you?" Dick jeered

"Ellery is quite right," Mrs Percival interrupted "Madeline has

sorow enthusiastic, mother"

"I love her very dearly, Dick"

"Norris and I are going out to see her to-uess"

Mrs Percival beaave his head an affectionate pat,

and the son glanced up with a blandness that ht easily have become a