"I wish you'd not made that mistake about Miss Scott," said Mrs. Harding, after a moment's silence.
"How could I help it?" blurted Harding. "Scott's a common name. How on earth could I tell—and coming from Oxford!"
"Yes, but you could see she powdered, and her dress! Besides, coming with the Dashwoods and knowing Mrs. Potten!" continued Mrs. Harding. "If only you had said one or two sentences to her; I saw she was offended. That's why she ran off with Mrs. Dashwood, she wouldn't be left to your tender mercies. I saw Lady Dashwood staring."
Harding made no answer, he merely blew through his pursed-up mouth.
"And we've got Boreham dining with us next Thursday!" he said after a pause. "Damn it all!"
"No. I didn't leave the note," said Mrs. Harding. "I thought I'd 'wait and see.'"
"Good!" said Harding.
"It was a nuisance," said Mrs. Harding, "that we asked the Warden of King's when the Bishop was here and got a refusal. We can't ask the Dashwoods and Miss Scott even quietly. It's for the Warden to ask us."
"Anyhow ask Bingham," said Harding; "just casually."
Mrs. Harding looked surprised. "Why, I thought you couldn't stick him," she said; "and he hasn't been near us for a couple of years at least."