Cynthia hesitated, then she answered calmly:
"Mr. Cairns is coming in the morning to take me to the Metropolitan Museum."
"What a funny idea!"
"Why is it funny? He suggested that we go and look at the Chinese porcelains so that we could listen more intelligently to you."
"As though I were accustomed to lecture my friends! How absurd, Cynthia. You can't go. I want you at Silverwood."
"Thank you, dear, but I've promised him——"
"Then come up on the noon train!"
"In the afternoon," explained Cynthia, still more calmly, "Mr. Cairns and I are to read together a new play which has not yet been put in rehearsal."
"But, darling! I do want you for Sunday! Why can't you come up for this week-end, and postpone the Museum meanderings? Please ask him to let you off."
There was a pause, then Cynthia said in a still, small voice: