'The Private View is over,' said Lady Bandobust; 'but there is the Academy Soiree in June, and the Royal Colonial Institute, and a few things like that.'
'It sounds charming,' I remarked.
'We might do something about the Four-in-hand,' Lady Bandobust continued, with some impatience.
'Yes?' I said.
There was a pause, in which I cast about me for some way of escape. I felt that my interest in Lady Bandobust was exhausted, and that I could not pretend to entertain her scheme any longer with self-respect. Besides, by this time I cordially hated her. But I could think of no formula to retreat under, and resigned myself to sit there helplessly, and defend myself as best I could, until I was dismissed.
Lady Bandobust produced her last card. 'The Duchess of Dudlington gives a fête on the twelfth,' she said, throwing it, as it were, upon the table. 'I should probably be able to take you there.'
'The Duchess of Dudlington?' said I, in pure stupidity.
'Yes. And she is rather partial to Americans, for some extraordinary reason or another.' The conversation flagged again.
'Presentation—if that is what you are thinking of—would be extra, Miss Wick,' Lady Bandobust stated, firmly.
'Oh'—how much extra, Lady Bandobust?'