`` 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 Jack glanced at me for the fraction of a second . But I remembered that Gus Sinclair was coming too , and I did not look at him . Then he declined quietly . He had a business engagement , he said . I suppose Alicia had noticed that look at me , for she showed her claws . `` Do n't forget to call any time you are in Montreal , '' she said more sweetly than ever .
`` I am sure Katherine will always be glad XXXXX see any of her old friends , although some of her new ones are proving very absorbing -- one , in especial .
In after as at down of than that to with