'Father, I told you the other night I didn't want to put you to any expense. I've got thirty-seven pounds of my own, and I will pay; I prefer to pay.'
'Oh, no, no!' he exclaimed.
'Well, why can't I go?' she demanded bluntly.
'I'll think it over again—but I don't like it, Rose, I don't like it.'
'But there isn't a day to waste, father!' she complained.
Bessie entered to clear the table.
'Hum! Well! I'll think it over again.' He breathed out smoke, and departed. Rose set her lips hard. She was seen no more that evening.
In the drawing-room, Stanway found Twemlow and Millicent talking in low voices on the hearthrug. Ethel lounged on the sofa. Leonora was not present, but she came in immediately.
'Let's have a game at solo,' John suggested. And because five was a convenient number they all played. Twemlow and Milly were the best performers; Milly's gift for card-playing was notorious in the family.
'Do you ever play poker?' Twemlow asked, when the other three had been beggared of counters.