"I am very sorry, darling Mrs. Tennant, but I am privately engaged in my own half of the room. I am not interfering with Alice's."
"But you see, Kathleen, she can't get to her half."
"The door is in my half, you know," said Kathleen very meekly, "so I don't see that she has any cause to complain. I am awfully sorry; I will be as quick as I can."
"You annoy me very much. You make me very uncomfortable by going on in this extremely silly way, Kathleen."
"I will darn some more socks for you, darling, tired pet," whispered Kathleen coaxingly. "I really am awfully sorry, but there is no help for it. I must finish my own private affairs in my own half of the room."
She retreated from the door, and the scratching of the pen continued.
Alice downstairs felt like a caged lion. Mrs. Tennant admitted that Kathleen's conduct was very bad.
"It won't happen again, Alice," she said, "for I shall remove the key from the lock. She won't shut you out another time. Make the best of it, darling. If we don't worry her too much she is sure to capitulate."
"Not she. She is a perfect horror," said Alice.
Mrs. Weldon's supper party was to begin at eight o'clock. It was now seven, and the girls were to call for Alice at half-past. If Kathleen would only be quick she might still have time.