"No, of course not, so many thanks."
"Good-bye——"
"Over at last!" Mrs. Ogden leant back in her chair with a sigh that bespoke complete satisfaction. She beamed on her husband.
He smiled. "Went off jolly well, Mary!" He was anxious to make up for the morning.
"Yes, it was a great success, I think. Don't you think it went off very well, James?"
The colonel twitched; he longed to say: "Damn it all, Mary, haven't I just told you that I think it went off well!" But he restrained himself.
Mary continued: "Well, dear, the Routledges always did have a talent for entertaining. I can remember at Chesham when I was Joan's age——"
2
Sir Robert and Lady Loo were driving swiftly towards Moor Park behind their grey cobs. "Talent that youngster has for fiddle playing, Emma!"
"Yes, I suppose so. The mother's a silly fool of a woman, no more brains than a chicken, and what a snob!"