"Anybody except the Atherstones,"' she said.
"Nay, Evelyn; why?"
"I cannot endure them."
"You do not give yourself the opportunity to become acquainted—"
"I am too much acquainted already. Anybody rather than them! I can get on with Lady Lucas, for she is a perfect lady. I could not make a friend of her, but we are on civil terms."
"Civil terms!"
"I mean, we are all politeness. We discuss the weather, and we don't yawn. But none of that set suit me."
General Villiers wore a look of displeasure. "I should not have expected you to call my friends by such a term."
"To call them a 'set!' Is there any harm? I thought all Dutton was divided up into sets and cliques. William, I do try to be polite to the Atherstones when they come; but I can't do more. I cannot make myself like them."
"I wish to ask them in to lunch one day soon. To-day is Monday. Will Thursday suit you?"