She made no reply.
‘You didn’t ask her to call, either?’
‘I ought to have done so. I am very sorry to have neglected it.’
He looked at her with surprise which was very like a sneer, and kept silence till they reached the house.
One of the ladies whom Adela had already met, and a gentleman styled Captain something, were guests at dinner. Alice received her sister-in-law with evident pleasure, though not perhaps that of pure hospitableness.
‘I do hope it won’t be too much for you,’ she said. ‘Pray leave as soon as you feel you ought to. I should never forgive myself if you took a cold or anything of the kind.’
Really, Alice had supplied herself with most becoming phrases. The novels had done much; and then she had been living in society. At dinner she laughed rather too loud, it might be, and was too much given to addressing her husband as ‘Willis;’ but her undeniable prettiness in low-necked evening dress condoned what was amiss in manner. Mr. Rodman looked too gentlemanly; he reminded one of a hero of polite melodrama on the English-French stage. The Captain talked stock-exchange, and was continually inquiring about some one or other, ‘Did he drop much?’
Mutimer was staying at the house over-night. After dinner he spoke aside with Adela.
‘I suppose you go back to-morrow?’
‘Yes, I meant to.’