"I am not sure that she will come," said Miss Woodruff, looking around the assembled circle, while Mrs. Forrester still held her hand. "She is still very tired, so I cannot be sure; I hope so." She smiled calmly at Sir Alliston and Miss Scrotton who were talking together and then lifted her eyes to Gregory who stood near.
"You know Mr. Jardine?" Mrs. Forrester asked, seeing the pleased recognition on the girl's face. "It was his first time last night."
"No, I do not know him," said Miss Woodruff, "but I saw him at the concert. Was it his first time? Think of that."
"Now sit here, child, and tell me about Tante," said Mrs. Forrester, drawing the girl down to a chair beside her. "I saw that she was very tired this morning. She had her massage?" Mrs. Forrester questioned in a lower voice.
"Yes; and fortunately she was able to sleep for two hours after that. Then Mr. Schultz came and she had to see him, and that was tiring."
Mr. Schultz was Madame Okraska's secretary.
"Dear, dear, what a pity that he had to bother her. Did she drink the egg-flip I had sent up to her? Mrs. Jenkins makes them excellently as a rule."
"I did my best to persuade her," said Miss Woodruff, "but she did not seem to care for it."
"Didn't care for it? Was it too sweet? I warned Mrs. Jenkins that her tendency was to put in too much sugar."
"That was it," Miss Woodruff smiled at the other's penetration. "She tasted it and said: 'Trop sucré,' and put it down. But it was really very nice. I drank it!" said Miss Woodruff.