Mrs. Pantin’s manner was tinged with patronage.
Kate’s silence deceived her. She imagined that Kate was awed and tongue-tied in her presence. The woman was, as Prissy had assured Abram, “tickled to pieces.”
In the meanwhile, interested observers of the meeting were saying to each other cynically:
“Nothing succeeds like success, does it?”
This time, apparently, Mrs. Pantin expected an answer, so Kate asked bluntly:
“What for?”
“Luncheon. At one—we are very old-fashioned. I want you to meet some of our best ladies—Mrs. Sudds—Mrs. Neifkins—Mrs. Toomey—and others.”
As she enumerated the guests on her fingers the tip of Mrs. Pantin’s pink tongue darted in and out with the rapierlike movement of an ant-eater.
Kate’s face hardened and she replied curtly:
“I already have had that doubtful pleasure upon an occasion, which you should remember.”