“With Phil-ipp, Granny dear.”
“Mr. Shelmerdine, I presume, my dear.”
Granny’s presumption was correct; and a few more muffins were indicated, Mary seemed to think, for all that her lunch at Pagani’s had been so terrific.
All this was merely brushing the ice; it was not really breaking it; and who was going to break it was the problem that now was exercising the manly bosom of Philip. However, they would await that further relay of muffins before they ventured on the pickaxe act.
Muffins with a little salt sprinkled upon ’em do splendidly with Chayney tea, even after a toppin’ little lunch at Pagani’s. Sometimes, that is. Rather depends, you know, on what quarter the moon is in, and whether Mars and Venus are in conjunction, and Jupiter is in the First House, and the Sun is in Aries, and so on. But given that all these signs and portents are favorable, there is really no reason why muffins and salt and Chayney tea should not be perfectly delectable in Granny’s withdrawing-room at twenty minutes past four, even after a champagne luncheon at Pagani’s at a quarter to two.
The planetary bodies have been behaving quite nicely this afternoon, so far. Let us hope they will continue to do so.
Jupiter was in the First House, you must please remember; and it was not less than he, as of course the discerning reader has known from the first, who ruled the destinies of this daughter of good fortune who had been endowed with every grace. Therefore it need surprise no one that Mary received a special message by wireless with her second cup of Chayney tea.
“Take Granny into your confidence now, my dear,” ran the message. “She has had quite a nice nap; her rheumatism has scarcely troubled her at all to-day; she can’t help liking your Phil-ipp, although she has tried her hardest not to; and she is rather inclined to think that it may do no harm to teach—”
Yes, it is doubtless right to keep that part of the message off the records at present.
Mary flung her arms round the neck of Granny, in perilous contiguity to the real-lace-of-Siddons.