He did not wait to hear what she might have to say in answer to this, but strode out of the house to his car, and drove off with a furious jarring of gears slammed home, and the scud of gravel slipping under wheels wrenched roughly round.
"An English Sunday at Home!" said Mary, apparently addressing a huge bowl filled with auratum lilies.
Ermyntrude's luncheon was carried into the drawingroom on a tray, an arrangement which met with Wally's undisguised approval, but although she was clearly too unwell to attempt to take her place in the dining-room, she felt just strong enough, after she had disposed of a nourishing and varied repast, to welcome the Prince to a chair beside her sofa, and to hold him in sad, low-voiced converse for over an hour.
"And I quite think that she's doing her Great Renunciation scene," said Vicky, sprawling, all legs and arms, in the hammock. "She definitely had that look on her face, hadn't she?"
"I don't know, and I think the way you talk about her is perfectly disgusting!" replied Mary.
"Oh, darling, do you? Are you feeling foul?"
"I'm feeling utterly fed-up with the whole situation!"
"Never mind, sweet! We're getting rid of Alexis for tea," said Vicky.
"If your mother lets him go."
"Well, if she does, it'll be a pretty sure sign that she's sacrificed him to Duty," said Vicky cheerfully.