"Mother!" Charmian looked genuinely surprised. "Not Aunt Kitty!"
Aunt Kitty was a sister of Mrs. Mansfield's whom Charmian disliked.
"Oh, no—Claude Heath."
After a slight but perceptible pause, Charmian said:
"Mr. Heath. Oh, you asked him for to-night before you knew I should be here. I see."
"No, I didn't. I thought he would like to hear about your African experiences. I asked him after your telegram came."
Charmian got up slowly, and stood where she could see herself in a mirror without seeming intent on looking in the glass. Her glance to it was very swift and surreptitious, and she spoke, to cover it perhaps.
"I'm afraid I've got very little to tell about Algiers that could interest Mr. Heath. Would you mind very much if I gave it up and dined in bed?"
"Do just as you like. It was stupid of me to ask him. I suppose I acted on impulse without thinking first."
"What time is dinner?"