"I suppose your son told you what happened last night. So silly. I'm so ashamed."
"Ashamed?" said the princess, and she noted that her tone had something of the neutrality of Haines' own. She had copied him.
"Ashamed of Dan," answered Charlotte. "That's so like him—not to understand—just to take the crude view of it. I haven't seen him since, but I know so well how he would take a thing like that. As a matter of fact, I must tell you, Lisa—though I promised that I wouldn't—Raimundo was asking my help. He wants to marry the little Haines girl; he wants me to bring you round. He knows you hate everything American—"
"I don't hate everything American," said the princess, and again her voice sounded in her ears like Haines'.
"This girl, you know, is Dan's niece, and exactly like him. And now I'm afraid that will do for her, as far as you're concerned. Of course you must hate Dan—the idea of him—and if you saw him—well, you will see him at dinner tonight."
The moment had come. The princess shook her head.
"No," she said, "I shan't be at dinner tonight."
Charlotte looked at her and then broke out into protest: "No, no, you mustn't go. Let Raimundo go, if he must, but not you. Don't desert me, Lisa, because I have the misfortune to be married to a man who does not understand. Oh, to think that anything should have happened in my house that has hurt your feelings! I shall never forgive Dan—never! But don't go—for my sake, Lisa."
"It's for your sake I'm going, my dear."