She looked at me and laughed pointlessly. Then she flounced over to the dog, kissed it with ecstasy and swept into the kitchen, implying that a dozen chefs awaited her orders there.

“I've done some nice things out on Long Island,” asserted Mr. McKee.

Tom looked at him blankly.

“Two of them we have framed downstairs.”

“Two what?” demanded Tom.

“Two studies. One of them I call 'Montauk Point — the Gulls,' and the other I call 'Montauk Point — the Sea.' “

The sister Catherine sat down beside me on the couch.

“Do you live down on Long Island, too?” she inquired.