'Pardon,' answered the waiter, 'monsieur expressly said eight.'
'Oh, he forgot. He did not understand. We are now nine.'
Then Philip interfered.
'I said eight, but if you particularly desire Miss Durham's society, I can sit at the long table with the common guests.'
'Oh, Philip! surely, surely not!' exclaimed Salome. 'It will hurt her feelings.'
'She will understand that we are a family party, and that from such a party strangers are best excluded.'
Salome heaved a sigh. She could not endure the thought of giving pain to anyone.
'Who is she?' asked Philip.
'She is a lady, and very agreeable. Indeed, a most superior person. You will be certain to like her, when you come to know her. Oh, Philip! she knows a thousand things about which I am ignorant.'
'I have no doubt about that,' answered Philip ironically; 'and things I would be sorry you should know about. I make no question she has seen the shady side of life.'