Butasthemantelclockstruckwheezilysixtherewastherattleofanouterdoor,andarichandbeautifulpealoflaughterwentringingthroughthehouse。ThuscheerfullydidMaryVertreesheraldherreturnwithhermotherfromtheirexpeditionamongthebarbarians。
Shecamerushingintothelibraryandthrewherselfintoadeepchairbythehearth,laughingsouncontrollablythattearswereinhereyes。Mrs。Vertreesfolloweddecorously,nomirthabouther;onthecontrary,shelookedvaguelydisturbed,asifshehadeatensomethingnotquitecertaintoagreewithher,andregrettedit。
\"Papa！Oh,oh！\"AndMissVertreeswasfaintoapplyahandkerchiefuponhereyes。\"I\'mSOgladyoumadeusgo！Iwouldn\'thavemissedit——\"
Mrs。Vertreesshookherhead。\"IsupposeI\'mverydull,\"shesaid,gently。\"I
didn\'tseeanythingamusing。They\'remostordinary,andthehouseisaltogetherinbadtaste,butweanticipatedthat,and——\"