[CHAPTER XXI.]
"Who pleasure follows pleasure slays;
God's wrath upon himself he wreaks;
But all delights rejoice his days
Who takes with thanks, yet never seeks."
COVENTRY PATMORE.
Two days after this, I was surprised by the appearance on my plate, at breakfast, of two notes. The first proved to be an invitation for a party from a Mrs. Humphrey, cards for which Mrs. and Miss Churchill had received a week ago.
"Well!" exclaimed Josephine, unceremoniously, "I wonder what inspired Mrs. Humphrey to send you an invitation."
"It would be difficult to say," I returned, taking up the second. "Certainly no suggestion from you."
"Alps on Alps!" exclaimed Grace, looking over my shoulder. "Tickets for the Charity Ball! What next?"
"What, indeed," I said. "John, some more sugar in my coffee, if you please."
"Really, you don't seem much excited by your invitations. I suppose you don't intend to accept them?"
"Accept them!" echoed Josephine. "What an idea! It would be perfectly absurd to think of it, when it's understood that she's not out yet."