She called them into lunch. She was painfully conscious of the discrepancies of her house, but as a matter of fact Counsell was astonished when he entered. Pen had full control within the house and the squalor was left out of doors. The furniture, what there was left of it, dated from the same ugly period as the house, but there were certain touches; the lofty rooms were cool, inviting, full of charm. Poor as the Broomes were one could never mistake it for other than a lady's house. Particularly the dining-room with its velvety smooth walnut table, the hand-made mats, the dull old silver, the flowers, the delicious looking food. "Oh! but I'm hungry!" Counsell said involuntarily, showing all his white teeth. Glancing at Pen he found her eyes obstinately hidden, but she betrayed a dimple. Not until she heard Counsell pick up his knife and fork did she venture to look at him. She had been waiting for the moment when his attention would be distracted by food. The smooth turn of his ruddy cheek and his long, curved lashes hurt her with delight. There was something affectingly boyish about him for all his strength and his assured air. Pen yearned to mother that shining head against her breast. She never looked at him but the once, yet she was aware of every mouthful he took, and every mouthful gave her satisfaction. Pendleton Broome opened his eyes rather at the spread. The glance of reproof that he sent across to Pen suggested that while hospitality was the first law of the Broomes, still there should be reason in all things. From that moment with true male consistency he began to cool towards their young guest. Nevertheless, charmed to have a sophisticated listener, he aired all his quaint and impractical theories. He dabbled in chemistry amongst other things, and had a great store of pseudo-scientific patter. Counsell listened politely and made the suitable rejoinders, but never lost an opportunity of trying to draw Pen into the talk. Pen, resisting his efforts, was nevertheless secretly delighted with his adroitness. It made her realize how she had been hungering for the graces of intercourse. Once Counsell asked her directly: "Do you know New York?" "I went to school there." She named a famous finishing school. Counsell could not but look his surprise. "I had a legacy," said Pen demurely. Her father frowned. "Then you know people in New York?" Counsell said eagerly. She shook her head. "I have not kept up with the girls." "She deliberately dropped them!" her father put in with an aggrieved air. "It is the infernal Broome pride. She was most popular in school." Pen laughed lightly. "Northerners are different," she said. "They don't make a merit of their departed glories."