And in her way , she was a positive belle . She did n't dance , but all the middle-aged men , widowers , wedded , and bachelors , who had known her in her girlhood crowded around her , and she laughed and chatted as I had n't even imagined Miss Ponsonby could laugh and chat . Jerry and I revelled in her triumph , for did we not feel that it was due to us ? At last Miss Ponsonby disappeared ; shortly after Jerry and I blundered into the library to fix some obstreperous hairpins , and there we found her and Stephen Shaw in the cosy corner . There were no explanations on the road home , for Miss Ponsonby walked behind us with Stephen Shaw in the pale , late-risen October moonshine . But when we had sneaked through the neighbour-to-the-left 's lane and reached our side verandah we waited for her , and as soon as Stephen Shaw had gone we laid violent hands on Miss Ponsonby and made her ` fess up there on the dark , chilly verandah , at one o'clock in the morning . `` Miss Ponsonby , '' said Jerry , `` before we assist you in returning to those ancestral halls of yours you 've simply got to tell us what all this means . '' Miss Ponsonby gave a little , shy , nervous laugh . `` Stephen Shaw and I were engaged to be married long ago , '' she said simply . `` But Father disapproved . Stephen was poor then . And so -- and so -- I sent him away . What else could I do ? '' -- for Jerry had snorted -- `` Father had to be obeyed . But it broke my heart . Stephen went away -- he was very angry -- and I have never seen him since . When Susan Hubbard invited me to the party I felt as if I must go -- I must see Stephen once more . I never thought for a minute that he remembered me -- or cared still ... '' `` But he does ? '' said Jerry breathlessly . Jerry never scruples to ask anything right out that she wants to know .
`` Yes , '' said Miss XXXXX softly .
Father Hubbard Jerry Ponsonby Shaw Stephen morning neighbour-to-the-left right widowers