"And the Derings are stuffy.,
"Not Lady Dering. She's a good sort, and always was, and she's behaved to me more like a lady than a lot of others I could name."
"And Hugh Dering is stuffy," said Vicky obstinately. "It's going to be a lousy party."
"Not with the Prince," said Ermyntrude.
"If anyone wants to know what I think, which I don't suppose they do," interpolated Wally, "this Prince of yours will just about put the finishing touch to it. However, it's nothing: to do with me, and all I say is, don't expect me to entertain him!"
Ermyntrude looked a little perturbed. "But, Wally, you'll have to help entertain him! Now, don't be tiresome, there's a dear! You know we arranged it all weeks ago, and honestly I know you'll like Alexis. Besides, you won't have to do much, except take him out shooting, like we said."
Wally rose from the table, tucking the newspaper under his arm. "There you go again! If I've told you once, I've told you a dozen times that I don't like shooting. And now I come to think of it, I lent my gun to Harold, and he hasn't returned it yet, so I can't shoot even if I wanted to.
This was too much, even for a woman of Ermyntrude's kindly disposition. She said hotly: "Then you'll tell Harold White to return it, Wally, and if you don't, I will! The idea of your lending poor Geoffrey's gun without so much as by your leave!"
"I suppose I ought to have sat down with a planchette, or something," said Wally.
Ermyntrude flushed, and said in a tearful voice: "How dare you talk like that? Sometimes I think you don't care how much you hurt my feelings!"