Kimberly's shortness of manner indicated his annoyance. "You have that at your hand," he said sitting down.
"How rude, Robert," retorted Lottie, with assumed impatience. She glanced loftily around. "Walter," she exclaimed, looking across the table at Alice's husband and taking Alice's breath away with the appeal, "give me some whiskey."
"Certainly, Mrs. Nelson."
"No, stop; mix me a cocktail."
"Is your husband an expert, Mrs. MacBirney?" asked Guyot as MacBirney rose.
"Not to my knowledge," answered Alice frankly. "I hope," she added, with a touch of asperity as her husband stepped to a sideboard, "that Mrs. Nelson is not fastidious."
"It is disgusting the way my friends are behaving," complained Lottie turning to Lambert. "This is my birthday----"
"Your birthday!"
"That is why you are all here. And whoever refuses now to drink my health I cast off forever."
"Is this a regular birthday or are you springing an extra on us?" demanded Fritzie.