"Kitty!—what do you mean?"
"I am not going to the Parhams'," repeated Kitty, slowly. "They should behave a little more considerately to me if they want to get me to amuse their guests for them."
At this moment Margaret French re-entered the room. Lady Tranmore turned to her with a gesture of distress.
"Oh, Margaret knows," said Kitty. "I told her yesterday."
"The Parhams?" said Margaret.
Kitty nodded. Margaret paused, with her hand on the back of Lady Tranmore's chair, and there was a short silence. Then Lady Tranmore began, in a tone that endeavored not to be too serious:
"I don't know how you're going to get out of it, my dear. Lady Parham has asked the Princess, first because she wished to come, secondly as an olive-branch to you. She has taken the greatest pains about the dinner; and afterwards there is to be an evening party to hear you, just the right size, and just the right people."
"Cela m'est égal," said Kitty, "par-faite-ment égal! I am not going."
"What possible excuse can you invent?"
"I shall have a cold, the most atrocious cold imaginable. I take to my bed just two hours before it is time to dress. My letter reaches Lady Parham on the stroke of eight."