Evening, however, usually overtook them at the cottage.

By common consent they tabooed the more formal social entertainment which the various hostelries at Wildwood offered.

Only on one occasion did they diverge from their clannish programme in order to attend an informal hop given by Elfreda's friend, Madge Morton, at her father's cottage.
During their stay at the Briggs' cottage the previous summer, they had been given the opportunity of meeting this charming young girl.

Shortly after their arrival she had come over from the Morton cottage to pay them a friendly call.

Greatly attracted to her, on first meeting they had greeted her warmly and invited her to share their good times.
Madge and Grace had a bond in common in that while Grace was preparing to be married to Tom Gray, Madge was trying to decide whether or not she should pledge herself to marry Tom Curtis.