“She wants us to go play with her,” explained Sam gently. “Nobody can play lawn tennis by themselves. She wants you, boy.”
“Where does it say that?” enquired the incredulous James.
“It doesn’t say it. The English don’t say it. It would sound too eager. They just mention the event casually, and if you want to go you can.”
“But I don’t want to go.”
“Well, write and say so.”
“Why? It doesn’t tell me to do that on the card.”
“Doesn’t it? Jim Hollis, haven’t you got any sisters to tell you what things mean? Look at that R.S.V.P. down there! That’s the reference-number of the file, and you quote it in replying.”
Jim paled.
“Listen, how do you address anybody like that?” he enquired, despairingly.
Sam’s eyes twinkled.