`` I had to come to Montreal on business , and I thought it would be too bad if I went back without coming to see what they had been doing in Vanity Fair to my little playmate . '' `` Well , what do you think they have been doing ? '' I asked saucily . I had on a particularly fetching gown and knew I was looking my best . Jack , however , looked me over with his head on one side . `` Well , I do n't know , Kitty , '' he said slowly . `` That is a stunning sort of dress you have on -- not so pretty , though , as that old blue muslin you used to wear last summer -- and your hair is pretty good . But you look rather disdainful and , after all , I believe I prefer Thrush Hill Kitty . '' How like Jack that was . He never thought me really pretty , and he is too honest to pretend he does . But I did n't care . I just laughed , and we sat down together and had a long , delightful , chummy talk . Jack told me all the Valleyfield gossip , not forgetting to mention that Mary Carter was going to be married to a minister in June . Jack did n't seem to mind it a bit , so I guess he could n't have been particularly interested in Mary . In due time Alicia sailed in . I suppose she had found out from Bessie who my caller was , and felt rather worried over the length of our tête-à-tête . She greeted Jack very graciously , but with a certain polite condescension of which she is past mistress . I am sure Jack felt it , for , as soon as he decently could , he got up to go . Alicia asked him to remain to dinner . `` We are having a few friends to dine with us , but it is quite an informal affair , '' she said sweetly .
I felt that XXXXX glanced at me for the fraction of a second .
Alicia Bessie Carter Fair Jack Kitty Montreal Valleyfield muslin tête-à-tête