"It's raining so."
"Well, I never in all my days heard you make that excuse before!"
Val traced an invisible design on the back of the hall-chair.
"Cousin Ethan was asked, too. It strikes him as being a very bad day."
"Ethan? Preposterous! Why should he bother with the Hornseys?"
There was a pause. Suddenly she asked:
"Was there not an Archery Club meeting yesterday?"
"Yes, but I—I thought I wouldn't go when we had company."
"My dear child, the company need not be so much on your mind. Your father and I are quite capable of entertaining Ethan."
"Oh yes, of course."