"It wasn't dreadfully important at all," Barbara said, in cold annoyance.
"Oh, wasn't it? And what was it, dear?"
"It was simply—it was nothing at all," Barbara protested, reddening. "I was just thinking that we have to have that rehearsal at the clubhouse this afternoon, and I was wondering if Jim would walk down there with me now, and see about getting the room ready——"
"Dad's got an eleven-o'clock operation, and I'm going to assist," said Jim.
"Did you forget that, dear?" Mrs. Toland asked.
"It's of no consequence," said Barbara, her voice suddenly thick with tears. Her hand trembled as she reached for a muffin.
"Keith, do you want to go down with us to the rehearsal this afternoon?" said Sally amiably to the little guest.
"Oh, I don't think the whole pack of us ought to go!" Ted protested in alarm. "You aren't going to let Janey and Con go, are you, Mother?"
"Oh, why not?" Mrs. Toland asked soothingly. Barbara here returned to the discussion with a tragic: "Mother, they can't! It would look perfectly awful!"
"Well, you don't own the yacht club, you know, Babbie," Ted supplied sweetly.