“Yes?”
“Mrs. Clarendon refuses my invitation—that I mentioned in my letter, you remember.”
“Refuses? What is her objection?”
“Nothing definite. She says she cannot leave England, that’s all. Has she—I don’t think there’s any harm in asking you, is there?—has she spoken with you at all of what she is going to do?”
“Well, no. In fact, it’s a subject she won’t approach. I don’t think she has formed any plans whatever yet.”
Asquith reflected, and at the same time tea was brought in and lamps lit.
“I half supposed,” said Mrs. Stratton, glancing aside at him, as she held up the teapot, “that you were the most likely person to know of her plans.”
“I assure you, Mrs. Stratton, that was a mistake, an entire mistake.”
The lady raised her eyebrows a little and carefully removed a tea-leaf from her cup.
“You take it for granted,” she asked, after a moment, “that she will really quit Knights-well?”