“Hang it all!—ours.”
“I didn’t know we had a box for this important social function.”
Lady Holme really made a great effort to keep the ice out of her voice, but one or two fragments floated in nevertheless.
“Well, I tell you I’ve taken a box and asked Laycock—”
The reiterated mention of this hallowed name was a little too much for Lady Holme’s equanimity.
“If Mr. Laycock’s going the box won’t be empty. So that’s all right,” she rejoined. “Mr. Laycock will make enough noise to give the critics a lead. And I suppose that’s all Miss Schley wants.”
“But it isn’t!” said Lord Holme, violently letting himself down at the knees and shooting himself up again.
“What does she want?”
“She wants you to be there.”
“Me! Why?”