Uncle Max left her to herself after a time, and began to talk politics with Mr.Hamilton, and Mr.Tudor was soon compelled to follow his example.
Poor Mr.Tudor! I rather pitied him, for his other neighbour, Lady Betty, had turned suddenly very sulky, and I had my surmises that Miss Darrell had said something to affront her; for she made snapping little answers when any one spoke to her, and, though they laughed at her, and nobody seemed to mind, most likely they thought it prudent to give her time to recover herself.
Miss Darrell's radiant good-humour was a strange contrast to her two cousins' silence.

She threw herself gallantly into the breach, and talked fast and well on every topic broached by the gentlemen.

She was evidently clever and well read, and had dabbled in literature and politics.
Her energy and vivacity were almost fatiguing.

She seemed able to keep up two or three conversations at once.

The lowest whisper did not escape her ear; if Mr.Hamilton spoke to me, I saw her watchful eye on us, and she joined in at once with a sprightly word or two; the next moment she was answering Uncle Max, who had at last hazarded a remark to his silent neighbour.