A little pucker of Mrs. de Cressiers' eyebrows made Sidney drop her bantering tone.
"Monnie won't dine with you. She hates a lot of people, and she'll be very glad to get rid of her visitor. Just explain it to her; she will understand."
"But what is her cousin like?"
"Is he county or cockney?" interrupted Austin. "Has he a long enough pedigree to eat salt with us, and has he an immaculate dress-suit?"
"He is one of the Nevilles," said Sidney, shaking her head reprovingly at him, for one of his mother's failings was a lack of humour. "Dad will tell you his pedigree. He's an ex-M.P. and a failure."
"That he's not!" contradicted the Admiral with warmth. "He is too good for his party, that's what he is. Take him and be thankful, Clarice. But I doubt if he'll go to you; he told me he wanted to rusticate."
"I'll drop in on Monica on my way home," said Mrs. de Cressiers.
"And I'm going to plant myself firmly here till bedtime," said Austin.
His mother looked at him reproachfully, and he added heartily: "I really ought to be canonised, mother, so don't overdo it. Think of my busy day, and let me have a little recreation now. I really will come home before the small hours of the morning."
Mrs. de Cressiers rose to go. Her son accompanied her to the gate, where the carriage was waiting; then he came back joyously to Sidney.