"I hope it was not a matter of great importance."
"No. That is, I behaved odiously to him yesterday - oh, to you, too, but I don't care for that! Oh, the devil, now what have I said?"
She looked so rueful, yet had such an imp of mischief dancing behind her solemnity that Judith was obliged to laugh. "I wish you will sit down! Have you breakfasted?"
Barbara dropped into a chair. "No. I don't, you know." She sighed. "Life is using me very hardly today. You will say that is my own fault, but it is nevertheless monstrous that when I do mean to be good, to make amends, I must needs oversleep."
After a moment's hesitation, Judith said: "You refer, I recollect, to your picnic scheme?"
"Of course. I wanted to tell Charles I was only funning."
"You do not mean to go, then!"
"No."
"I am so glad! I was completely taken in, I confess."
"Oh no! I did mean to go - yesterday! But Gussie -" She broke off, grinding her teeth together.