"Of course; you are always right," replied Isabel, accepting the correction in the letter but not in the spirit of meekness. "This room really is a lovely sight, isn't it?" She was wondering how soon the Royalties would arrive.
"It is; its proportions are so fine that it never strikes one as large or small," agreed her lover.
"Oh! I don't mean that it is a fine sight architecturally; I mean the company looks so smart. Everybody is here—that is to say, everybody who is anybody."
"Well, not quite everybody; you are a little inaccurate, my dear. Some people are asked to the second Concert and the first Ball, instead of to the first Concert and the second Ball as we have been," explained Lord Wrexham. "I do not know how the Lord Chamberlain picks and chooses, but there is no advantage of one over the other."
"I expect they divide, the people alphabetically," observed Isabel absently, looking towards the entrance at the upper end of the room.
"I expect so; that is always a most satisfactory plan in lists of any kind. But no," he continued, looking puzzled, "that cannot be the system, because I am invited to the first Concert and my name begins with a W."
"But there is no reason, that I can see, why the alphabet should not begin at W and end at V for a change, instead of the old eternal A and Z system," said Isabel wickedly.
Lord Wrexham appeared more puzzled than ever. "It would be most unusual, and I do not see that any advantage would be gained thereby."
"It would be a reform, and that is always a distinct advantage, don't you know?"
Lord Wrexham's face relaxed. "Ah! now I see you are laughing at me," he said pleasantly; and after a moment's meditation, he began to laugh himself. "That was very funny, Isabel—very funny indeed! To begin the alphabet at W by way of a reform! Capital! capital! And, as you say, my dear, quite as sensible as many reforms that are suggested."