“Nobody but Myrtella. Sit on your foot if she comes around. If you don't hurry Cousin Katherine will have nervous prostration.”
“I don't see why you have to treat reception day like judgment day,” complained Miss Lady. “Who else is down stairs?”
“Only Mrs. Ivy now. She is the one who held your hand and called you a sunbeam. Gerald's mother, you know. Hat can't abide her; says she's a pussy-cat. Of course Mr. Gooch will be here for supper.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Gooch.”
“A friend of the Doctor's?”
“No, indeed. He isn't anybody's friend. He bores us all to extinction.”
“Well, what's he coming for?”
“I don't know. He always comes on Friday. He came in here once to get out of the rain, and Mother asked him to stay to tea. That was ten years ago and he has been back nearly every Friday since.”
“Do you have company like this all the time?” asked Miss Lady somewhat breathlessly.