“I’m more apt to prove a culprit in that regard than a teacher,” declared Ethel. “I’m seldom on time in the early morning.”
“Too many late hours,” grumbled Ogden, rising heavily to pull out a chair for his wife.
“Did you enjoy the dance last night, Ethel?” asked Mrs. Ogden, rattling the coffee cups with unnecessary vigor in the hope of diverting Ethel’s attention from Ogden’s early breakfast grumpiness.
“Very much!” Ethel took a large helping of cereal offered her by the attentive butler. “But it was a later affair than I anticipated, and on the way home Jim Patterson’s car had a blow-out.”
“Oh, did Mr. Patterson bring you back?”
“Yes, and the Marshalls as well.” Ethel smiled demurely. Mrs. Ogden’s interest in James Patterson, United States representative from California, was transparent.
“I can’t think why you don’t marry Jim Patterson, Ethel; he’s asked you often enough,” remarked Mrs. Ogden, taking in her cousin’s fresh young beauty with an appraising glance. “And then you would be able to give up your tiresome teaching.”
“But my teaching is not tiresome,” protested Ethel, flushing hotly. “You try giving lessons in conversational English to some of the diplomats and you will soon find how amusing it is.”
“I hope for the foreigner’s sake, Ethel, you don’t use old-fashioned phrase books,” broke in Ogden. “I recall that some years ago the wife of a diplomat brushed up her English, of which she spoke only a few words, before attending a large luncheon, and during a pause in the conversation, she remarked politely to her hostess: ‘I see the rat. The rat is under the chair,’ and consternation prevailed until the hostess and other guests grasped the situation.”
“My pupils have no opportunity to quote from primers,” laughed Ethel. “I never use them. We talk, read, and compose, and I have them write letters to me. Oh!” she paused and took a letter from her bag. “This came last night from Maru Takasaki. I asked him to write me his impressions of the Diplomatic Reception at the White House. Do listen, he is my prize pupil,” and she read the note aloud.