Miss Ponsonby did n't say anything for a few moments . When she spoke some strange and curious note had come into her voice , as if a chord , long unswept and silent , had been suddenly thrilled by a passing hand . `` Did I understand you to say that Geraldine was -- entertaining Stephen Shaw ? '' `` Yes . He 's home from the west and he 's delightful , '' I replied . `` All the Glenboro girls are quite crazy over him . Jerry and I are as bad as the rest . He is n't at all young but he 's very fascinating . '' `` Stephen Shaw ! '' repeated Miss Ponsonby faintly . `` So Stephen Shaw is home again ! '' `` Why , I suppose you would know him long ago , '' I said , remembering that Stephen Shaw 's youth must have been contemporaneous with Miss Ponsonby 's . `` Yes , I used to know him , '' said Miss Ponsonby very slowly . She did not say anything more , which I thought a little odd , for she was generally full of mild curiosity about all strangers and sojourners in Glenboro . Presently she got up and went away from her window . Deserted even by Miss Ponsonby , I went grumpily to bed . Then Mrs. George Hubbard gave a big dance . Jerry and I were pleasantly excited . The Hubbards were the smartest of the Glenboro smart set and their entertainments were always quite brilliant affairs for a small country village like ours . This party was professedly given in honour of Stephen Shaw , who was to leave for the west again in a week 's time .
On the evening of the party Jerry and I went to our room XXXXX dress .
as at by for from in into like that to