And he left Penelope at her house just in time for afternoon tea. As she lay on the sofa she handed a paper to Chloe Cadwallader, saying:
"I wish you would send out cards to all these people for Thursday night."
"That's very short notice, darling," said Chloe.
"They'll come," said Pen.
And when Chloe looked at the list she found it included only Pen's particular friends, her most bitter relations, and the whole of the "horde."
"I wonder—" said Chloe, and she wondered somewhat later with Ethel.
"Is it?" said Ethel.
"Can it be?" cried Chloe.
"It can't be," said Ethel.
"Who knows?" asked Chloe. "She is so plain and so simple and straightforward that there is no certainty about anything she does. I understand the wicked and the weak, but Penelope—"