“So nice of you to come! Such a pleasure to see you! So good of you to come all the way down here!”
Girlie realized that she was in the grip of the voluble and demonstrative mistress of Clavering Park.
“You have made friends with Sir Toby already, of course?”
The little man answered brightly that they had made friends already. Other brief and swift introductions followed, but Miss Cass made no effort to catch the names and she shyly avoided the eyes of these favored ones. And then said the hostess with delightful urgency, “Do let me give you some tea.”
Almost as if by magic a passage was found to a table in the middle of the hall. As the important guest moved forward with the hostess the conversation abruptly stopped. Girlie felt that every eye was upon her fur coat, yet somehow the sensation was not unpleasant. There were more brief introductions en route. And then at last she was safely anchored in a very seductive low chair and the conversation had begun again with a redoubled violence.
“So sporting of you to come and help us!”
Girlie was soon aware that there was no immediate need for her to say anything; the hostess and those around her were abundantly equipped with small talk.
“This tea is quite fresh. Milk and sugar?”
Girlie’s tongue declined to act, but somehow she was able to muster a hoarse whisper which the hostess interpreted as “Yes, please.”
Tea gave Girlie a little courage. A spasmodic warmth began to flicker in her gray eyes.