There was an element of gentle and sympathetic interest in Dora's manner, which reminded him of her visit to Cobhurst, and the good-night on the stairs, and this had a very charming effect upon Ralph, and made him wish that the portfolio were at least double its actual size.
The Haverleys stayed so long that Mrs.Bannister, upstairs, began to be nervous, and wondered if Dora had asked those young people to remain to tea.
On the way home Ralph was in unusually good spirits, and talked much about Dora.

She must have seen a great deal of the world, he said, for one so young, and she talked in such an interesting and appreciative way about what she had seen, that he felt almost as if he had been to the places himself.
With this for a text, he dilated upon the subject of Dora and foreign travel, but Miriam was not a responsive hearer.
"I wish you knew Mr.Bannister better," she said in a pause in her brother's remarks.

"He must have been everywhere that his sister has been, and probably saw a great deal more." "No doubt," said Ralph, carelessly, "and probably has forgotten most of it; men generally do that.

A girl's mind is not crammed with business and all that sort of stuff, and she can keep it free for things that are worth remembering." Miriam did not immediately answer, but presently she said, speaking with a certain air of severity:-- "If my soul ached for the company of anybody as Miss Panney told you Dora Bannister's soul ached for my company, I think I should have a little more to say to her when she came to see me, than Dora Bannister had to say to me to-day." "My dear child!" exclaimed Ralph, "that was because you were so busy with your book.

She saw you were completely wrapped up in it, and so let you take your own pleasure in your own way.