"Is it ten minutes yet? I don't suppose I ought to stay more than ten minutes at a first call, ought I? Cousin Polly says that is long enough."
"I think persons often do stay longer." Mrs. Corner was too greatly entertained to want to get rid of her guest. "I am sure I shall be delighted if you will stay," she went on as she rose to ring the bell. "Bring some cake and some of that currant shrub that Mrs. Southall sent me," she told the maid, and Jack was glad she had mentioned the pink lemonade. "I want to offer you some refreshment, Miss Jacqueline," said her grandmother.
"Thank you," said Jack, promptly sitting down again. "Nobody ever calls me Jacqueline; it's always Jack. When Nan and I are grown we are going to call ourselves Nannette and Jacqueline, not Nan and Jack, but mother says she wants me always to be called Jack after my father. He was your son, wasn't he?"
The amused look faded from Mrs. Corner's eyes. "He was my only son and no one can take his place. No one knows how terribly I miss him."
"Well," said Jack, forgetting to be propitiatory, and somehow resenting this speech, "I'm sure we couldn't ever get a new father any more than you could get a new son, and I reckon my mother misses him as much as you do."
Mrs. Corner looked startled. "I suppose so; I suppose so," she murmured. "It is true that others have claims."
Jack did not quite take this in but she followed up her speech by adding: "I suppose you missed your husband when he died, didn't you?"
"Oh, child, child, what are you saying?" said her grandmother in a tremulous voice.
Jack regretted this remark seeing her grandmother's agitation. "I don't suppose I ought to have said that. Was it impolite?" she asked. "I wanted to be very polite."
"Oh, because I----" she hesitated. "I must go now. I have finished the party; it was very nice indeed."
Mrs. Corner looked at her with sudden suspicion. "Did Nancy send you over here?" she said.
"Nobody sent me. I didn't tell any one I was coming."
"Why to see you. Didn't the servant tell you? Didn't she give you my card?"
"Oh, yes." Mrs. Corner's face cleared. "I am glad you came of your own accord. I have enjoyed your call immensely."
"Thank you. Ought I to say Mrs. Corner or grandmother?"