"Well, what shall I do?" asked Isobel, blankly.
"If you are really anxious to settle the matter, I'm afraid a deputy is the only course open to you. Of course, if they are your relations you must simply ignore them; if they're not, you can cultivate their acquaintance or not, just as you like," Pamela said, trying her best to be helpful to Isobel, as she could see the problem appeared to be of great moment to her.
"Oh, but I couldn't ignore Lady Prior in any case, could I?" said Isobel.
"You must settle that matter yourself," replied Pamela, quietly. "But I think it would be breaking your word to Miss Crabingway if you visit 'any relations whatsoever.'"
Isobel was quiet for a while, thinking the matter over.
"Um! Well, I'll have to see," she said presently, and fell silent again, making plans for the future.
The other three resumed their occupations, and for a while there were no sounds in the room but the rustle of paper, the scratching of a pen, and the little plucking noise of Caroline's needle as it moved in and out of the stiff linen she was sewing.
By and by Beryl got up and went out of the room to fetch another sheet of music from her box upstairs. This interruption caused Isobel to break silence again by making several remarks to Caroline concerning Beryl's attire.
"And why ever she wears such short-sleeved blouses this cold weather, I'm sure I don't know," she ended.
"They don't look like new ones. Perhaps she's had them some time," suggested Caroline.