Page:Carroll Rankin--Dandelion Cottage.djvu/325

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CHAPTER XXIX

A Bewildering Silence Explained

FIVE minutes later, Marjory escorted the guests to the dining-room, and, finding both of these usually talkative persons alarmingly silent, she inferred of course that Mabel had forgotten—as, indeed, Mabel had—her instructions in regard to introducing them. Marjory's manners on formal occasions were very pretty; they were pretty now, and so was she, as she hastened to make up for Mabel's oversight.

"Oh, Mr. Black," she cried, earnestly, "I'm afraid no one remembered to introduce you. It's our first dinner party, you know, and we're not very wise. This is our dearest neighbour, Mrs. Crane, Mr. Black."

The guests bowed stiffly for the third

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