As she went towards the drawing-room Mrs. Ackroyde joined her.
“You were rather unkind to Alick Craven, Adela,” she murmured. “Has he offended you?”
“On the contrary. I think he’s a charming boy.”
“Don’t punish him all the afternoon then.”
“But I am not going to be here all the afternoon. I have ordered the car for half-past three.”
“It’s that now.”
“Well, then I must be going almost directly.”
“You must stay for tea. A lot of people are coming, and we shall have music. Alick Craven only accepted because I told him you would be here.”
“But you told me he had accepted when you asked me.”
“That’s how I do things when I really want people who may not want to come. I lied to both of you, and here you both are.”