"Sit down." Mrs.Chalk sat down at the large table opposite Mr.Stobell; Mr.Chalk, without glancing in his wife's direction, seated himself by that gentleman's side.
"Well, weren't you surprised ?" inquired Mrs.Chalk, loudly, as her hostess passed her a cup of tea.
"Surprised ?" said Mrs.Stobell, curiously.
"Why, hasn't Mr.Stobell told you ?" exclaimed Mrs.Chalk.
"Told me ?" repeated Mrs.Stobell, glancing indignantly at the wide-open eyes of Mr.Chalk.

"Told me what ?" It was now Mrs.Chalk's turn to appear surprised, and she did it so well that Mr.Chalk choked in his tea-cup.

"About the yachting trip," she said, with a glance at her husband that made his choking take on a ventriloquial effect of distance.
"He--he didn't say anything to me about it," said Mrs.Stobell, timidly.
She glanced at her husband, but Mr.Stobell, taking an enormous bite out of a slice of bread and butter, made no sign.
"It'll do you a world of good," said Mrs.Chalk, affectionately.

"It'll put a little colour in your cheeks." Mrs.Stobell flushed.

She was a faded little woman; faded eyes, faded hair, faded cheeks.