“Who?” asked Miss Mapp.
“Faradiddleony,” said Diva.
“No!” said Miss Mapp very loud, so much interested that she quite forgot to resent Diva’s being the first to have the news. “Let’s have a comfortable cup of tea in the garden-room. Tea, Withers.”
Miss Mapp lit the candles there, for, lost in meditation, she had been sitting in the dark, and with reckless hospitality poked the fire to make it blaze.
“Tell me all about it,” she said. That would be a treat for Diva, who was such a gossip.
“Went to the station just now,” said Diva. “Wanted a new time-table. Besides the Royce had just gone down. Mr. Wyse and Susan on the platform.”
“Sables?” asked Miss Mapp parenthetically, to complete the picture.
“Swaddled. Talked to them. Train came in. Woman got out. Kissed Mr. Wyse. Shook hands with Susan. Both hands. While luggage was got out.”
“Much?” asked Miss Mapp quickly.
“Hundreds. Covered with coronets and Fs. Two cabs.”