As for
you, Philip Poynter, it's exactly like you! To depart night before
last and suddenly reappear is _quite_ of a piece with your mysterious
habit of fading periodically out of civilization. Baron Tregar, how
_exceedingly_ delightful of you to come this way and surprise me when I
fancied you were so keen about those horrid tarpon that you wouldn't
leave them for all I _wrote_ and _wrote_."
There was a sprightly nervousness in Ann's manner. She was
uncomfortably aware of a subtle undercurrent.
"And I've another unexpected guest," she added to Diane. "Carl's here.
Wandering in from Heaven knows where, as he always does. He's making
his peace with your aunt--"
Herodotus, who had been trying for some time to get into friendly
communication with his lady, suddenly murmured "Frost in Florida!" with
audible regret and moved off good-humoredly to look for Carl.
He found that young man listening attentively to his aunt's reproaches.
"And that costume, Carl," fluttered Queen Elizabeth in aggrieved
disapproval. "Why, dear me, it's enough to make a body shudder, it's
so sort of sinister--it is indeed! And I do hope you don't set your
hair on fire with that extraordinary light in your turban. Is it a
candle or an electric bulb?"
"A forty horse power glowworm!" Carl assured her gravely, and the
portly Jethro sniggered to the danger of his seams.
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