Alice in the afternoon was over at Imogene's. Robert Kimberly was there with his brother. Afterward he joined Imogene and Alice under the elms and asked them to drive. While Imogene went in to make ready Alice poured a cup of tea for Kimberly. "I suppose you know you have made Dolly feel very bad," she said with a color of reproach.
Kimberly responded with the family prudence. "Have I?" Alice handed him the tea and he asked another question. "What, pray, do you know about it?"
"Nothing at all except that she is hurt, and that I am sorry."
"She didn't tell you what the difference was?"
"Except that it concerned her coming guest."
"I offered Dolly my yacht for her week. She wanted me to go with the party. Because I declined, she became greatly incensed."
"She thought, naturally, you ought to have obliged her."
"I pleaded I could not spare the time. She has the Nelsons and enough others, anyway."
"Her answer, of course, is that your time is your own."
"But the fact is, her guest made the request. Dolly without consulting me promised I would go, and now that I will not she is angry."