"More than can be said for you, old chap," remarked Toby. "Tom, how gray you are getting!"
"Yes, I've no chance. But you are in luck, Toby. The girl is charming, and her mother is unique."
"I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about," said Toby, amid loud laughter and a shrill cat-call from Alice. "Well, I'm going, Kit. Good-night; and try to teach Tom manners."
And Toby, still smiling genially, went towards the door. But Kit retained his arm.
"Don't go, Toby," she said. "Stop and play a bit. You like baccarat. And don't mind what Tom says. You're a credit to the family."
"Toby will bring the family more credit," said Tom, in a low, audible voice to his sister.
"Tom, be quiet," said Alice. "When you try to chaff people, it is like an elephant dancing on eggshell china."
"Toby, Alice is calling you eggshell china. Lovely but homely."
"Awfully sorry, Kit," said Toby, "but I must go. I promised to go on to the Keynes'."
Now, it was to the Keynes' that the Murchisons had gone, and Kit knew it. She saw also that Toby had had enough of the subject, and, without any more efforts to detain him, especially since he was rather tiresome at baccarat, and always won. "Well, if you must go, you must," she said. "Let's see you again soon, old boy."