"Good gracious, I don't know! What an engaging idea, though! We shall have fun tomorrow!"
Sir William snorted audibly, but his son only laughed, and inquired who else was to be of the party.
"Well, I don't know the extent of the party, but the Bawtrys are going," replied Lady Dering.
"The Bawtrys?" exclaimed Sir William, surprised out of his resolve to take no part in a conversation he found distasteful.
"Ermyntrude is getting on, isn't she?" said Hugh. "I thought Connie Bawtry was stoutly Old Guard?"
"Ha!" said Sir William. "Another of the hospital committee! Upon my soul, things have come to a pretty pass!"
"Oh, is that the racket?" said Hugh. "I rather wondered."
"That's my racket," corrected his mother. "Not Connie Bawtry's. At least, it is really, only she won't own it."
"Then what the devil takes her to Palings?" demanded Sir William.
"God, apparently. It's all right, dear; I'm not being profane. Connie's been Changed. She's got under God Control, or something, and she says what the world needs is God-guided citizens, and if you learn Absolute Love you don't mind about Ermyntrude's accent, or Wally Carter's habits."